Though there were no serious injuries, one firefighter was sent to the hospital and three others needed emergency attention. Meanwhile, some residents were displaced from their homes.
In what was probably the most serious blaze, firefighters responded to a Jan. 5 call when neighbors reported a fire at 68 Davison Ave. By the time firefighters arrived shortly after the call at 3:30 p.m., flames were blowing out windows and heavy smoke was billowing from the house, said ex-captain and Lynbrook Fire Department spokesman Steve Grogan.
Vulcan Co. was the first on the scene,
followed by Tally-Ho, Engine, Truck and Hose Companies. Firefighters worked quickly to move a hose up to the roof of the house and prepare attack hoses.
As firefighters entered the house through the front door, they were met with a wall of fire that was quickly consuming the first floor of the house. Besides the intense heat, they were also met with a heavy volume of smoke that blinded them and made movement into the house difficult, said Grogan, who was on the scene as well. At one point the side windows of the house exploded in a ball of flame and rained glass on firefighters in the driveway.
Grogan said firefighters with saws were moved to the roof to cut ventilation holes in the house to make it easier to get at the blaze from below. The fire had engulfed a rear bedroom on the first floor, the kitchen and the dining room and was moving to the second floor.
By then firefighters had extinguished embers that started a small fire on the garage of a neighbor's home, and were wetting down the roof of another neighbor's home.
Fire Chief John Matzen called for aid from neighboring villages. The East Rockaway Fire Department sent a ladder truck, Rockville Centre sent a ladder and an engine and Lakeview sent an ambulance. Malverne and Woodmere also sent assistance to cover the Earle Avenue firehouse in Lynbrook should another call come in.
The fire was extinguished within 35 minutes, but not without injuries to firefighters.
Two were treated by the department's Emergency Medical Company and released. A third was taken to Mercy Medical Center for treatment, and a fourth had fallen down the stairs in the home while looking for people who may have been trapped inside. Matzen said all the firefighters have completely recovered from their injuries.
An investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office determined the fire was likely started when two heaters plugged into the same outlet caused an electrical overload. Damage to the house was estimated at $250,000 and firefighters were at the scene until 6 p.m.
Even though the fire was consuming the house, our Lynbrook volunteers, placing themselves in harm's way, made their way through the intense heat and smoke to extinguish the fire, Matzen said.
Christmas Day blaze
The Christmas Day fire was reported to Lynbrook firefighters shortly after 2:30 p.m. when a blaze erupted in a seven-apartment dwelling at 20 St. James Place, fire officials said.
When firefighters arrived, they saw flames shooting out of the second-story, engulfing one bedroom and spreading to the attic and roof area. It had also blown out second-story windows, said Grogan. Truck, Tally-Ho and Hose Companies responded with three hose lines to fight the blaze.
Chief Matzen asked for help from local fire departments and assistance was sent from the East Rockaway and Lakeview Fire Departments. Matzen said the help from nearby stations was crucial, since fewer firefighters were available over the holiday.
An inspection by the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office revealed the fire was most likely caused by faulty wiring or an overloaded extension cord in the bedroom, officials said.
The blaze was extinguished within 40 minutes and caused about $125,000 in damages, Grogan said, adding that many volunteers were called away from Christmas dinner to fight the blaze.
My family had fresh ham, and I had not so fresh ham, Matzen said.
In addition, Matzen said three families were forced to evacuate their homes. The family who owned the apartment where the fire started was not home when it began.
New Year's Day fire
On New Year's Day, the Capri Motel, at 5 Freer St., was evacuated by firefighters responding to a fire in one of the first-floor rooms.
Investigators still aren't sure exactly what caused the fire as the room had not been rented that day. But a hotel manager said someone in the room the night before could have left a cigarette burning, which caused the fire that started on a chair in the motel room.
Firefighters arrived and put out
the flames in the room, Grogan said.
They also checked the walls to see if
the fire had spread, but it was confined to one room. Damage was estimated at $15,000.
Asked about the number of fires recently, Grogan said, Yes, we've been too busy. We shouldn't be this busy.
