Members of the family and a pet dog and bird who were inside the home escaped without injury after a passerby rang the doorbell and banged on the door while alerting authorities at 911.
Rockville Centre police officers were first on the scene, responding to the call at 1 a.m. When firefighters arrived, they found the rear of the structure fully engulfed in flames. They attacked the fire from a neighbor's driveway. One firefighter sustained a minor injury and was taken to Nassau University Medical Center. The rear extension of the building was destroyed and the rest of the house suffered smoke and water damage.
Mayor Mary Bossart, who came to the scene, said she would love to be able to commend the man who first spotted the fire and was responsible for the residents' safe escape. She invited him to come forward and identify himself.
