Off-duty Lynbrook cop helps save 8 pets from fire

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An off-duty Lynbrook police officer saved his neighbor’s home and the eight animals living inside after he noticed smoke coming from the front porch on March 27.

Officer Joseph Cosenza, who lives behind 12 Edward Street in Lynbrook, smelled smoke coming from the house and noticed a fire burning on its porch. Cosenza was watering down the fire with a garden hose when the firefighters arrived, said David Gildea, spokesman for the Malverne Fire Department. Knowing the owner had pets, Cosenza entered the home and tried to get the animals out. In total, two dogs and six cats were inside the house and removed by firefighters.

A person was also in the home at the time, Gildea said, and exited the home unassisted.

“We were called and got there pretty quick,” Gildea commented. “All the contents on the porch were on fire. It didn’t spread very much, however — just a minor extension into the house.”

Malverne received mutual aid assistance from Lynbrook, Valley Stream and Franklin Square Fire Departments. The Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office responded to conduct a routine investigation of the cause of the fire. Firefighters were at the scene for over an hour. There were no injuries.