Dryer fire damages Valley Stream home
A family of three had to find another place to stay after a fire, which started in the dryer, caused moderate damage to their Bayview Avenue home last Thursday evening.
The Valley Stream Fire Department was called to 33 Bayview Ave., near the William L. Buck Elementary School, shortly after 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 16. First arriving firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the back of the house. Fire Chief Joseph Fernandez said the fire took about 20 minutes to bring under control, and firefighters remained on the scene for a little more than an hour.
Fernandez said the fire started in a dryer, which was located in the middle of the home between the kitchen and the bathroom, and spread up a pipe chase to the second floor. He said the exact cause appeared to be a lint build-up.
Firefighters had to rip out the walls of a closet in a second floor bedroom to extinguish the blaze, as well as part of the kitchen ceiling. Flames also followed the dryer vent to the back of the house, he said.
Salvatore Spinicchia, a former Valley Stream fire chief, lives next door and said the woman from the home came to tell him about the fire. Spinicchia said he immediately called 911.
Spinicchia said a quick response by the fire department saved the home from further damage. “They were here like that,” he said.
Fernandez said the home suffered at least $25,000 in damage. He and said the damage was extensive enough that the family will not be able to live in the home until repairs can be made, plus the Long Island Power Authority responded and cut electricity to the house. The residents were able to find other family to stay with, Fernandez said.
Spinicchia said his heart goes out to the family, who lost a daughter in a drunk driving accident in Suffolk County last year.
Part of Horton Avenue was closed as firefighters stretched to several area hydrants. Fernandez said two hose lines were needed to put out the fire.
No injuries were reported. Mutual aid was provided by the Elmont, Malverne, Hewlett and Woodmere fire departments.
Fireplace sparks small blaze
A few days later, Valley Stream firefighters responded to a house fire on Lutz Drive. They were called to the scene shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.
Fernandez said an unattended fire burning in the fireplace was the cause of the fire at 11 Lutz Drive. He said that flames spread into the basement and burned some beams, and left a hole between the basement and first floor. There was also moderate smoke and water damage, but Fernandez said the home was still livable.
It took 50 firefighters from Valley Stream less than 30 minutes to bring that fire under control, he said. There were no injuries and the family safely made it out of the house.
