By Esther McKenna
Victims in critical condition
Three people were injured and more than 75 firefighters responded to a residential fire at 135 Southard Avenue early Monday evening. Rockville Centre firefighters braved thick smoke and intense heat to rescue two senior citizens from a fire reportedly started by careless cigarette smoking.
Long-time village residents Helen Bonifer, 74, and her husband Martin, 80, suffered from smoke inhalation and severe burns, and were listed in "very critical condition" at Nassau County Medical Center late Tuesday afternoon. Rockville Centre Police Officer Robert Schroeder was transported from the scene of the fire to South Nassau Communities Hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation and later released.
Rockville Centre firefighters responded to a call for a "roaring house fire" exhibiting "thick smoke and intense heat" shortly after 7 P.M., according to a department spokesperson.
"Smoke was pouring out of the building," said veteran firefighter Rory Thompson of Alert Engine Company. Mr. Thompson was on the scene quickly and was greeted by former village firefighters Tom Hayes and Jay Leach and former Floodlight Rescue Company captain John Busching. All four men said they were unable to enter the front door of the residence due to extraordinary heat from within.
"I was only able to get a few feet inside before the smoke blew me out," said Mr. Thompson, who eventually ran around to the back of the residence and was successful in entering from there. As firemen with airpacks started a search and rescue mission throughout the front of the house, Mr. Thompson located an unconscious Mr. Bonifer on the kitchen floor and, with the assistance of Officer Schroeder, dragged him outside to safety.
Seconds later, Captain Brian Cook and fire fighting brothers Chris and Dom Milone and fireman Andrew O'Brien of Reliance Hose Company carried out Mrs. Bonifer, who had passed out on the dining room floor.
"[Mrs. Bonifer] was lying there, unconscious... we immediately brought her out of the back door of the house, put scott packs over her mouth and let the rescue team take over," said Captain Cook. Scott packs are used by firefighters to aid in breathing when surrounded by heavy smoke.
The Bonifer's neighbors, Seth Schneibolk, 11, and his brother Brett, 14, were playing street hockey with their cousin John Goldman, 15, some time after the fire had started. When their ball landed on the Bonifer's property, they saw flames and smoke coming from the Bonifer's windows and moved closer to further investigate. "The couch was on fire, the floor was on fire, the flames went from floor to ceiling," said Brett. "Mrs. Bonifer was trying to back away from the flames. But she was in her walker and couldn't move so fast."
When the boys realized the seriousness of the situation, they informed their parents who then reported the fire.
"The boys were screaming for help, when they caught the attention of my daughter, Caitlin. She reported the fire immediately and I threw a hose on the Bonifer's house until the firefighters had the situation under control," said Martin Hayes, the Bonifer's next-door neighbor.
Members of the Floodlight Rescue Company administered CPR before transporting the victims to local hospitals. According to a fire department spokesperson, Mr. and Mrs. Bonifer were first treated at South Nassau and Mercy hospitals, respectively, and later transferred by ambulance to NCMC where Mrs. Bonifer was admitted to the Burns Unit and Mr. Bonifer remains in the Intensive Care Unit. An NCMC spokesperson reported that both victims were listed as "very critical" on late Tuesday afternoon. The Bonifer's daughter, Jeanne, who also resides at 135 Southard Avenue, was not home at the time of the fire, according to neighbors.
Rockville Centre was assisted at the fire with ambulances from the South Hempstead and Oceanside Fire Departments, and an ambulance and Ladder Truck from the Lynbrook Fire Department. It was determined by Fire Investigator, Joseph Whittaker, that the fire started in the living room and was caused by careless cigarette smoking.
