By JOSEPH KELLARD
The blaze broke out at Novak Auto Corps, 4 Hampton Road, at about 2:15 p.m. on April 19, and spread across the yard, destroying more than 12 cars, a shop, an office and several storage buildings. No serious injuries were reported.
As many as 250 firefighters on 21 trucks from more than 10 local fire departments - including Oceanside, Island Park, Baldwin, East Rockaway, Point Lookout and Atlantic Beach - battled the blaze for more than six hours before extinguishing it. Long Beach sent a tower ladder truck and about 10 firefighters to the scene, and an engine truck and ambulance and about 15 firefighters for standby at Oceanside headquarters, said LBFD Commissioner Scott Kemins.
Vincent McManus, division supervisor for the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office, said that during the cleanup of the property, firefighters found what they suspected were hand grenades. While the county Arson and Bomb Squad could not be reached at press time, McManus said, “They were describing it as a grenade, but I don't know if that technically was what it was. I know he had legal ammunition on the property and some of that was discovered during the overhaul or cleanup phase, and the Arson and Bomb Squad took it away without incident.”
Owner Ken Novak said that the grenades were novelty items that can be bought at any stationery store. “What they had found was de-activated hand grenades that say, 'Take a number,'” he said. “A firefighter saw a couple of those on our desks and thought they were hand grenades and freaked out. But they were just novelty items.”
McManus said that the cause of the fire was still undetermined but did not appear to be suspicious. “We're looking into the possibility that it may have involved a faulty electric cord,” he said.
Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
