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Light Rain EMFD fights major house fire
One volunteer sustained hand injury
East Meadow firefighters arrived at a Stratford Drive home thick with acrid smoke on the morning of April 27. Soon after, the house erupted with flames.
Fighting intense heat and unstable flooring, more than 70 firefighters from East Meadow and nearby communities extinguished the flames within 40 minutes.
“As firefighters pulled hose and entered the home, conditions on the interior began turning for the worse,” said John O’Brien Sr., a department spokesman, adding that one firefighter was treated for a laceration to his hand.
O’Brien said the department received the call at 8:23 a.m., and Engine 612 and Heavy Rescue 16 arrived simultaneously on the scene minutes later, led by his son, Capt. John O’Brien Jr.
The fire originated in the right side of the basement, and moved quickly into the house’s first and second floors. Upon arrival, Chief James Kane called for mutual aid at the scene and to cover empty East Meadow stations.
“At one point, sirens blared as a warning of danger to all firefighters inside,” said O’Brien Sr., “as the fire strengthened and reports of an imminent collapse of the first floor came over the radio.”
All levels of the house suffered “extensive damage,” said O’Brien, but firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading across the left side to limit the destruction.
Merrick, North Bellmore, North Merrick and Uniondale firefighters helped battle the blaze. Standing by at East Meadow stations were Hicksville, Westbury, and Levittown fire department volunteers.
Damages to the house are expected to exceed $150,000, said O’Brien. The cause of the fire was placed in the hands of the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office.
