House fire in Valley Stream destroys basement

An Oct. 24 mid-morning blaze burnt a Valley Stream homeowner’s hands and destroyed her basement on Woodlawn Avenue.

The Valley Stream Fire Department received a call about the fire at 10:24 a.m., and arrived on the scene by 10:26 a.m., according to Chief Jason Croak. He said that clothing piled against the house’s hot water heater appeared to have started the fire, which destroyed the basement and left smoke and heat damage on the first floor of the house. The homeowner also suffered from minor burns on her hand, but refused medical treatment.

With the help of firefighters from Elmont, Hewlett, Lynbrook, Inwood and Woodmere they were able to put out the basement fire in 20 minutes.