Ashtray dumped in garbage the cause
A family was left homeless and three firefighters suffered minor injuries when a fire broke out in a second-floor apartment on Grand Avenue Wednesday, Aug. 29. The firefighters were treated and released at the scene.
The fire at 2156A Grand Ave. started when a resident of the apartment emptied an ashtray into a kitchen garbage can and left for work, said Fire Investigator Joseph Whittaker.
"The case is closed. It was an accident," said Whittaker, who went on to say there was extensive damage in the kitchen and smoke and heat damage to the rest of the apartment.
Two residents of the apartment, Edgar Caicedo and his daughter, Claudia, arrived at the scene shortly after firefighters entered the building. Claudia, 19, sobbed quietly as she looked up through the broken windows of the apartment. A charred pink blanket sat on the sidewalk by her feet.
"Everything is gone," she said. The four members of the Caicedo family are staying with relatives.
The Caicedos rented the apartment from Dante Renzulli, who also owns Dante Custom Tailoring on the first floor. Fire officials said Renzulli's shop sustained minor water and smoke damage. Renzulli, who has owned the shop since 1972, could not be reached for comment. An answering machine message said the shop will be closed temporarily.
Kevin McElynn, deputy chief of the Baldwin Fire Department, praised firefighters for their fast and efficient work in a situation where the blaze could have spread to the attacked buildings.
"They got in right away and made a quick knock down of the fire," said McElynn.
Fifty-five Baldwin firefighters were at the scene. Freeport, Oceanside, Rockville Centre and South Hempstead fire departments provided back up.
Three Baldwin firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries. One had ashes fly in both eyes, another was overcome by heat exhaustion and the third was hit on the head by a piece of falling wood, according to Jerry Brown, supervisor of operations.
The fire also contributed to major traffic snarls, as a section of Grand Avenue was blocked off for two and a half hours.
"We saw a lot of unhappy campers when we were driving back to the firehouse," said Brown.
Deputy Chief McElynn said the apartment needs extensive rehab before it is inhabitable. Claudia Caicedo said eventually the family, who lived in the apartment for over two years, would like to call 2156A Grand Ave. home again soon.
"If it gets fixed, we'd like to move back in," she said.
