Fire in East Meadow draws large response

The East Meadow Fire Department responded to a house fire last week on Stephen Marc Lane. Radio call and cell phones sounded the alarm for all stations around 12:54 a.m. on Jan. 7. 

Within minutes, all four department chiefs, led by Chief of Department Philip Fertitta and his Assistant Chiefs, James Walsh, Michael Wood, and Kurt Becker, were on the road.

Four minutes after the alert, multiple engines, ladder trucks, heavy rescue vehicles and ambulances were on route to the scene of the emergency.

As Walsh approached the home, it was clear that a major fire was in progress, prompting his radio transmission of a Signal 10 — which means working fire, alerting the rapid intervention team and requesting various mutual aids from surrounding towns

The crew from Engine 612 quickly dropped their attack hoses and moved to a hydrant water supply, as Ladder 617’s crew began throwing ladders and confirming reports that all residents were out.

East Meadow’s Incident Command Post was established under the direction of Ex-Chief Griffin to pool all additional manpower and establish the resources needed for Fertitta in charge.

With hose lines charged, crews mounted an aggressive attack, with the fire already taking hold of the hidden voids of the attic.

Soon into the operation, firefighters had to back out as a section of the home on the right side began to collapse. On two occasions, safety officers called for the accountability of firefighters to ensure all were out.

Firefighters were able to reposition their attack on the exterior as temperatures dropped below freezing.

In all, 83 East Meadow volunteers responded to the blaze, with another 30 more firefighters from neighboring towns either providing support at the scene or standing by in the emptied East Meadow fire stations in the event of any other alarms.

Fire damage to the home was extensive on the right side and in the attic. There were no injuries.

Fire Departments from Merrick, Hicksville, North Merrick, Uniondale, North Bellmore, and Levittown assisted in the mutual aid plan.

Nassau County Fire Marshals were on the scene, as well as PSEG, Nassau County Police, National Grid, and Nassau County Building Department.

–John J. O’Brien Sr.