By Andrew Coen
The idyllic scene turned into a nightmare, though, when an electrical fire broke out on the first floor, unbeknown to Picillo and her children, who continued to play.
Luckily, the quick response and teamwork of the Inwood Fire Department and the Nassau County Fourth Precinct police unit saved them, in what became a dramatic rescue.
"In some ways it's heroic, but in other ways we were just doing our job," said Inwood's first assistant fire chief, Thomas Havey.
Picillo's mother-in-law, Consalata Picillo, who lives downstairs, was outside, leaving to take food to a church pantry, when she saw smoke and flames on the first floor. She called 911, but the Fourth Precinct officers first to arrive on the scene, Gerald Friel and Paul Pich, thought they were responding to a robbery, because of miscommunication due to the grandmother's "broken English." They instead found the front of the house engulfed in flames.
The officers called the Inwood Fire Department, and Nassau County Fire Department dispatcher Ralph Merz, understanding the severity of the situation, remained on the line and relayed pertinent information to the responding units.
The Inwood department received the call for a house fire with people trapped at 8:15 a.m., and Havey arrived on the scene minutes later. Using the information relayed by Merz, he located Picillo and her children, who were trapped at the rear of the third floor.
Havey encountered clouds of smoke when he first attempted to enter the house on the first floor, from the back. "The heat was so intense that I stepped two feet in front of the door and I was immediately pushed back by the smoke," he said.
Havey, who arrived before a ladder truck, had to find a way to reach the trapped family on the third floor. With the assistance of Officers Friel and Pich, he was able to find a contractor's ladder on the property and climb to the roof of the second-story back porch. After some hesitation, Picillo dropped the children to the officers below and climbed out the window with the assistance of the officers. Thirty members of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Hewlett and Valley Stream fire departments also responded, helping to extinguish the fire.
Havey's finding the ladder was critical in the rescue effort. "If there wasn't a ladder, it would've gotten hairy," he said.
The three victims were taken to St. John's Hospital in Far Rockaway, where they were treated and released for smoke inhalation. Two firefighters received minor injuries in the course of extinguishing the blaze.
"I don't think I knew how bad it was until after," said a shaken Picillo, realizing how close she and her children came to tragedy. "It's very scary. I haven't been able to stop crying."
The fire was caused by a short-circuit in a 30-year-old electrical outlet, said Picillo, and her home sustained extensive damage. The first floor was the most heavily damaged, but Picillo said the entire home must be gutted and redone. The Picillos are staying with family for the time being.
Picillo was grateful for the efforts of the fireman and officers in saving their lives. "They were great," she said. "They got there right in time. I can't thank them enough."
Pictured Above: Inwood Fire Chief Tom Pandolfo, ex-chief George Miller, Eric Pecora, Capt. Paul Divver, Frank Manara, Asst. Chief Tom Havey holding Steven Picillo, Marianne Picillo with daughter Isabella, dispatcher Ralph Mertz, Asst. Fire Marshal Peter Meade. Front, Steve Magliaro and Pat Saro.
