By Doug Miller
The fire was deemed accidental and no charges will be filed against the smoker, who was not identified.
In fact dozens of animals, from Labrador retrievers to giant turtles to exotic birds shared quarters with the human residents of the Seaview Garden Apartments at 65 W. Broadway - which was revealed after the police and firefighters' response to be one of the most animal friendly buildings in the city.
Since the animals were not permitted to stay in the temporary shelters set up for the burned-out families at the Lindell School or the Long Beach Motor Inn, many of them became temporary wards of the city's shelter or the All Creatures animal hospital on West Park Avenue.
"The building was like a zoo," said Scott Kemins, a senior fire official. "We took turtles out - turtles plural - a ferret, a snake, a bunch of dogs, a bunch of cats and a bird." An employee at All Creatures confirmed that by Friday all of the animals had been re-united with their families and that the black lab and turtle featured on this week's Herald cover survived.
But among the dead was an adult dalmatian and at least one cat.
The Seaview is a two-story U-shaped garden apartment complex. The fire began in the basement and was fully involved by the time emergency personnel arrived. "The police response was very good. Upon our arrival they were already evacuating people from basement windows," Kemins said. Two civilians were treated at the scene for smoke but refused treatment. Two firefighters, one from Long Beach and one from Island Park, were treated for smoke inhalation at area hospitals and released.
Representatives of Island Development, the owner of Seaview, did not return a call for comment.
For every animal lost in last week's fire, several were rescued by the firefighters, who were pleased to do it but warned that pets generally do not merit heroic action.
"Our priorities are life first, pets... somewhere down the line," Kemins said. "If we can get to them without endangering a member or any other human being, we will do that. But we will not put a firefighter in harm's way to rescue a pet. How will I as a chief explain to a fireman's widow that I told the guy to go up to the apartment and get that dog and he gets killed?"
Comments about this story? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
