Oceanside firefighters injured in recycling plant fire

Two Oceanside firefighters suffered minor injuries Thursday after they became trapped. Firefighters responded at 2:30 p.m. to reports of a fire at the burning sheet metal recycling plant at Cousins Metal on 460 Brown Court in Oceanside.

Upon the arrival of Oceanside Fire Department Chief Sean Costigan and Chief Sean Lynch was determined that there was a visible fire within the warehouse. A working fire was transmitted bringing in additional resources from three neighboring fire departments. Within minutes the Oceanside Fire Department had a hose line in the building when a collapse occurred trapping several firefighters.

All building workers were evacuated from the building and no employees were injured. The firefighters were able to self-extricate from the building. One of the pair was also treated for a neck injury and taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital. The other firefighter was also treated for exhaustion. Neither firefighter's injuries were considered serious.

Several neighboring fire departments responded as well as the Nassau County Fire Marshals Office, Nassau County Police Department, the Town of Hempstead Building Department, and the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management.

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze from eight departments. The fire was brought under control after two hours. The fire is under investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshals office.