Blaze engulfs North Merrick home

Fire consumed a Millwood Lane home in North Merrick on Monday afternoon, causing heavy smoke to spread throughout the neighborhood.

North Merrick Chief James Rogers said the department received a call at 1:15 p.m. reporting a fire in the basement of a Millwood Lane home.

“On arrival, we had heavy fire going on at the one-story, ranch-style home,” Rogers said. “The crews came in, and we did an aggressive interior fire attack that stretched three lines. We prevented the fire from spreading to the neighboring homes.”

The family escaped their home before flames engulfed it, Rogers aid. No residents were hurt, but two firefighters were injured and were immediately transported to a local medical center for treatment of minor injuries.

Carolyn Leitneis, who lives down the block on Richard Avenue, said she saw the smoke from her home and walked over to make sure that no one was hurt.

“I saw a little bit of smoke at first, and I thought that maybe someone was cooking,” Leitneis said. “But then the smoke got heavier and heavier, and I heard sirens and I knew something was wrong. I’m glad everyone got out safely and no one got hurt.”

Rogers said the cause of the fire is undetermined and is under investigation.

A construction worker, who declined to be identified, said his crew was working near the back of the house when he noticed something was off.

“We were working in the backyard when I noticed a box with wires,” he said in his native Spanish. “One of the wires looked so thin and frayed, I thought that it might just burst into flames right there. And then the next thing we know, there’s a fire in the home … I’m glad all our guys and the family are safe right now.”