Fire News

Fire tears through south Merrick home

All Merrick-Bellmore departments respond

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A fast-moving fire ripped through a two-story home at 100 Beach Drive in south Merrick around 9:43 a.m. on June 25, according to fire officials.

Ron Luparello, the Merrick Fire Department spokesman, said the fire ignited in a garbage can at the back of the house, in the southwest corner, and rapidly spread through the walls into the attic. 

At press time, there was no word on what caused the fire. The Nassau County fire marshal was called to investigate.

Roughly 75 Merrick, North Merrick, Bellmore and Freeport firefighters responded to the scene, while a dozen North Bellmore and Baldwin volunteers stood by to assist in case another emergency occurred. 

Firefighters attacked the fierce blaze from the interior, dousing it with water from a high-pressure hose line, to stop it from spreading further into the home, Luparello said. Once the fire was contained, volunteers began the hard work of ripping off sheetrock and siding to reach fire burning inside the walls, he said.

Firefighters needed about 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze.  "It was very quick, very quick," Luparello said.

The residents –– a family with children –– were at home at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Solar panels atop the roof, however, caused firefighters trouble when they started melting and falling from the home. "The solar panels caused a hazard for the guys working on the outside," according to Luparello.

No injuries were reported. The Merrick Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary was on hand to distribute water bottles to parched firefighters working in the summer heat in their heavy turnout gear. 

First Assistant Chief Paul Scolieri led the operation.