FD Rant News - October 2016
COMMACK
Town Car Up
in
Flames
Story and Photo by Devin Malloy
In the evening hours of Friday, September 9th,
the Commack Fire Department responded to
a reported car fire to the rear of 145 Commack
Road. When units arrived on scene they found
an involved car fire. Quint 14 was first on scene,
stretched a line, and began to put water on the
fire. Engine 3 and Engine 12 also responded
along with Rescue 9. All units on scene were under the command of Chief Rich Meyers [2-11-31].
FREEPORT
Heroic Rescues Made
Story and Photos by Fred Kopf
Several people were injured, including two off duty
police officers, after a fast-moving fire broke out at
a two-story, private house located at 118 Roosevelt
Avenue on Monday, September 12th. At 0630 hours,
Lieutenant Corey Cooke, of Bayview Hose Company
3, was on his way to work at the Freeport Police Department when he saw smoke pouring from the home
and called in a working house fire. While FireCom was
dispatching the alarm, Cooke entered the dwelling,
roused five residents, and assisted them out through
the thickening smoke. Cooke was then joined by
off-duty Nassau County Police Officer Gary Boulanger and both made entry to the dwelling under
worsening conditions to remove an elderly female.
Assistant Chief Matt Colgan [2101], based on radio
reports and the column of smoke visible from a distance, ordered a FAST from the Baldwin Fire Department. On his arrival, he found heavy smoke pushing
from the exposure two side second floor, and heavy
fire showing out the exposure three side windows
as well as through the roof. Chief Colgan took command of the scene, the alarm was retransmitted, the
department’s mutual aid plan put into effect, and additional ambulances were called in for those victims
suffering smoke inhalation. Engine 213 arrived firstdue and stretched a 1¾” line via the front entrance
to attack the fire. As members prepared to advance,
Engine 213 suffered a mechanical issue and was unable to pump water. A 5” supply line was stretched to
Engine 213 from Engine 214. Additional lines were
then hand stretched off Engine 216. Firefighters from
Ladder 218 had heavy fire on both floors and the rear
roof, as well as extension to an attached rear deck.
All visible fire was knocked down in 20 minutes; hot
spots were addressed, secondary searches were conducted, and overhaul was completed. A total of eight
patients -- six civilians and the two off-duty police officers -- were transported to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment. All of the victims, except the
elderly female, were treated and released later that
day. The cause of the fire is under investigation by
the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office.
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