Teens hailed as heroes

By Mary Malloy

The quick thinking of three teens helped save the lives of an elderly couple that were fast asleep early Monday morning as their Lynbrook home caught fire. Now, the three youths are being heralded as heroes.

Shortly before 1 a.m., Lynbrook High School students Gideon Stryker, 15, and Jacob Kayen, 15, both of Hewlett, were walking home on Union Avenue from the Lynbrook train station, and were near South Middle School when they saw what they thought was a bonfire. As they got closer, they saw the roof of a house opposite the school, at 342 Union, engulfed in flames.

Danny Gallagher, 18, of Lynbrook, got to the house a few moments before Stryker and Kayen. “I was on my way home from work,” said Gallagher, a recent Lynbrook High School graduate who didn’t know the other two teens. “I saw the fire and went over to see what was happening … One of the other guys called 911 from his cell phone, and the three of us banged on the door for what seemed like quite a while.”

Gallagher said that the elderly couple, who finally came to the door dressed in their night clothes, had been sleeping with the air conditioner on and were unaware that their attic and roof were ablaze. “I’m happy I did it,” Gallagher said. “I guess I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Stryker and Kayen, both students at Lynbrook High, had finished a night in Manhattan with a movie, and left Penn Station on the 11:45 p.m. train to Lynbrook.

“What we did was in instinct,” Kayen said, “and it was the right instinct, because the people may have not been alive today had we not done what we did. It’s just one big coincidence.” He added that his mother forgave him for leaving his phone in silent mode and coming home late.

When Lynbrook Fire Chief Kevin Bien arrived on the scene, a Signal 10 — for a working fire — was broadcast to responding fire units as the flames rose about 20 feet above the burning roof. Lynbrook firefighters were assisted by ladder companies from East Rockaway and Rockville Centre, and the Rockville Centre and Lakeview departments supplied equipment to cover any additional alarms in Lynbrook.

Firefighters were at the scene until shortly after 2:30 a.m. The fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical problem, according to Bien. Neither the homeowners nor any firefighters were injured. “The couple is alive today thanks to the quick actions of these three kids,” Bien said.

“I can safely say I’ve never seen a house on fire, or that I’ve saved lives before,” Stryker said. “I was relieved that they were OK and they told me no one else was in the house. They gave me a hug and shook my hand. I’m really proud.”

Steve Grogan and Stephen J. Bronner contributed to this story. Comments about it? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.