By Mary Malloy
The department's Second Assistant Chief Bobby Klose got the call for a working fire at 11:05 p.m. and was the first on the scene at 6 Second Ave., where he was told by an occupant of the home that there were three people still inside. "It was a four-apartment house," said Klose. "When the woman arrived home earlier, she heard the fire alarm going off on the second floor." She informed the fire department that two of the victims were on the first floor, and another man, Peter Demirakos, was on the second floor. Fire Chief Elvie Hickham, arrived and set up a command post at the scene.
"I had no gear on," said Klose, "so I crawled in the window and, still on my knees, pulled a man out of the first floor bedroom. There was a lot of smoke. I put him on the lawn and ran back to get his wife." The elderly man had a heart condition, said Klose, and both he and his wife were sent to South Nassau Communities Hospital.
Captain Steve Torborg, ex-captain Gene Torborg, Jr., and 3rd Assistant Chief Ed Reicherter, entered the structure wth air breathing apparatus, and were able to locate semi-conscious Demirakos in a second-floor bedroom. He was sent to Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow for burns.
A Lynbrook ambulance and truck company also responded, as well as a standby engine from Oceanside and a ladder truck from Rockville Centre. Nassau County police ambulance also assisted at the scene.
Firefighter Rob Schaeffer from the Main Street Firehouse was sent to the hospital with a broken ankle.
Nassau's Arson Bomb Squad is investigating the fire. The cause is still unknown at this time.
Comments about this story? Mmalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
