Chimney collapse in house explosion injures two Valley Stream firefighters

Two Valley Stream firefighters were injured early Sunday morning when a house fire and suspected gas explosion in Meadowmere Park caused parts of a chimney to collapse on them, according to fire and police officials.

Valley Stream firefighters were dispatched at around 5:39 a.m. as part of a mutual aid request from the Meadowmere Fire Department to assist with a blaze on South Street that fire officials said likely originated from a gas explosion, and which had spread to two neighboring houses. Roughly 13 departments, along with 125 firefighters were called to assist with the fire, officials said.

Valley Stream Fire Chief Eugene O’Brien, said the Valley Stream firefighters were injured from falling debris when the chimney of one of the neighboring homes collapsed. Both suffered bruises and cuts to their shoulder areas, police said, and were hospitalized.

One was airlifted to the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, and the other was rushed to South Nassau Mount Sinai in Oceanside. Both were released later that morning O’Brien said, and were expected to make full recoveries.

The home at the center of the fire appeared to be completely destroyed, O’Brien said, and the two others badly damaged. According Nassau County Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro, a 63-year-old man living in the home where the fire originated suffered severe burns and was also airlifted to NUMC. His condition is currently unknown. Several vehicles were also destroyed in the fire, he said. Neighbors said the explosion that sparked the blaze sounded like a bomb. Fire Marshal officials were investigating the incident, but Uttaro said it was not believed to be suspicious.

Meadowmere Park is neighborhood of roughly 60 people in Queens, on the Nassau County border, and is located on the water across the eastern tip of John F. Kennedy International Airport. Valley Stream firefighters were called as part of mutual aid agreement between fire departments in the area, according to Mayor Ed Fare.

He said the Valley Stream firefighters’ efforts were an example of their willingness to respond to an early-morning call to Meadowmere and, “to help out our neighbors there.”

-Matthew Ferremi and Jeffrey Bessen contributed to this story.