More than 20,000 affected by L.I. power outage

Nearly 22,000 Long Island residents were out of power Thursday, Feb. 10, when a fire started around 9 a.m. at the Long Island Power Authority substation in Elmont, located near Bedford Avenue and Grand Street.

Vanessa Baird-Streeter, executive director of communications for the Long Island Power Authority, said the power outage lasted nearly two hours for some residents, but lasted only 15 to 20 minutes for others.

According to the LIPA, 8,676 Elmont residents, 7,899 Franklin Square and 5,851 Floral Park residents were without power Thursday. Vanessa Baird-Streeter, executive director of communications for the LIPA, said the power outage lasted nearly two hours for some residents, but only 15 to 20 minutes for others.

Mike Capoziello, first assistant chief for the Elmont Fire Department, said the department responded to the fire around 9 a.m., and the LIPA arrived on scene about an hour later. Nearly an hour after the fire started, it burned out, Capoziello said.

He said no LIPA workers or firefighters were injured due to the fire, and no homes were in danger because the smoke did not reach a toxic level.

Baird-Streeter said the LIPA worked to repair the damaged lines, and switched power lines to restore power to residents. Power was completely restored to all residents by 11 a.m., she added.

Baird-Streeter said the fire caused major outages in communities near Elmont, including Franklin Square, Floral Park, North Valley Stream, South Valley Stream, Garden City and Stewart Manor.

Pat Nicolosi, president of the Elmont East End Civic Association, who is an Elmont resident, said he began making phone calls to the Nassau County Fire Department when his power went out this morning.

"I was concerned because my daughter has a newborn, and she lives a few blocks away from me, and had no power," Nicolosi said. "In the winter time, it's very frightening."

Baird-Streeter said the substation fire is currently under investigation by the fire department.