Inwood firefighter critically injured

Inwood firefighter Joseph Sanford Jr. was critically injured after falling through the first floor and into the basement, when responding to a fire at a Woodmere house at 787 Central Avenue about 4 a.m. on Dec. 19, according to fire officials.
Sanford was one of the first to respond after an initial 911 call. The fire began just before 4 a.m. at the vacant home. Other firefighters found Sanford by accident under debris as they made their way through the home.
Revived by firefighters after being in cardiac arrest, Sanford was taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. He was in critical condition and breathing with the help of a ventilator. Now it apears he will recover, officials said.
Sanford, the first African-American 1st deputy chief of the department, made his way up the ranks in his 19 years as a volunteer firefighter after serving the required five-year probation period. He eventually became a lieutenant, captain and 1st deputy chief.
Two other firefighters suffered minor injuries during the blaze that took 200 firefighters and 13 departments to extinguish. Woodmere, Inwood, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Meadowmere, East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Lakeview, Malverne and Elmont departments responded. They used 20 pieces of equipment at the scene.
The fire was not deemed suspicious by the Nassau County Fire Marshal and the investigation is continuing.