Meadowmere Park community rallies behind fire victims

The Meadowmere Park and Lawrence Cedarhurst fire departments, along with at least  13 other departments totaling 125 firefighters, battled to extinguish a three-house fire in Meadowmere Park for two and half hours on Nov. 1, officials said.

It is believed to be a gas explosion from the home at 3 South Street between West and East avenues, according to LCFD, that impacted two other homes, 1 and 5 South Street, officials said. All three houses were destroyed, officials said. Neighbors say the explosion sounded like a bomb. The fire call came in at 5:39 a.m.

Meadowmere Park Fire Chief Kevin Carrero said that all the residents got out of the homes. Carrero was the Herald's 2012 Person of the Year for his efforts to help the community after Hurricane Sandy. The New York City Fire Department and the Nassau County Police Department also responded.

Michael Uttaro, Nassau County assistant chief fire marshal, said that a wall that collapsed in the house where the fire originated injured two Valley Stream firefighters. One  firefighter was taken to the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow and the other was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside. Both suffered bruises and cuts to their shoulder areas, police said. A 63-year-old man who lived in the home where the fire began suffered severe burns and taken to NUMC. Several vehicles were also charred by the blaze.

Rockaway Turnpike was closed in both directions between Brookville and Peninsula boulevards for a few hours, then reopended. Area power was shutoff then resumed near 11:30 a.m.

Nassau County Marshals investigating the multiple-house fire said that they are not considering it suspicious at this time

Community help

Meadowmere Park residents have joined together to help their neighbors. The Ladies Auxiliary began a donation drop off at 1 Meyer Ave. that will be shared with all three families affected by the fire. Donors can also use Venmo to Jennifer Berghuis-Carrero or Pay Pal blueyedjb@yahoo.com   Put House Fire Families in the notes.

Two GoFundMe sites have also been set up. Lost home for Azza Ellaboudy

https://gf.me/v/c/vfy2/lost-home-for-azza-ellaboudy

Meadowmere Park Gas Explosion The Lombardo Family

https://gf.me/v/c/vfy2/Meadowmere-Park-Gas-Explosion-Lombardo-Family