By Andrew Hackmack
The fire was reported shortly before 1 p.m., and it took 80 firefighters about an hour to bring the blaze under control.
First Assistant Chief Joe Fernandez said that fire damage was contained to the back of the house, but there was significant water and smoke damage throughout. He said the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen or outside the back wall of the house. The cause remains under investigation, but Fernandez said it does not appear to be suspicious.
Vinny Sferrazza, who lives across the street, said his mother, Bridget, first noticed the fire. She called 911 while her son ran across the street and rang the doorbell to see if anyone was home, he said. "We were thinking the people were in there," he said.
The homeowners had gone out, and they returned while firefighters were battling the blaze, Sferrazza said. He added that he and the neighbor next door to the burning house attempted to knock down the fire with a garden hose, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Fernandez said there were numerous 911 calls about the fire, and he credited the quick alert by neighbors for saving the house. "With the homeowner not being home, it could have been a total loss," he said.
He noted that most of the back wall of the house was destroyed, and there was also fire damage to the roof. When he arrived on the scene, Fernandez said, he found flames roaring in the back and heavy smoke. He said that Second Assistant Chief John Beck, who, along with Fernandez, was first on the scene, did a quick search to make sure no one was inside.
The Valley Stream Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Franklin Square, Malverne, Elmont, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Lynbrook and Woodmere. Fernandez said that firefighters remained on the scene for about two hours, and that the homeowners were able to go inside and retrieve some belongings once the fire was out.
There were no reported injuries.
Comments about this story? AHackmack@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
