Eight companies battle Oceanside blaze

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Eight fire departments responded to an early-morning fire in Oceanside on Monday that left dozens of people homeless and destroyed several businesses.

According to Oceanside Fire Chief J.T. Madden, the first call came in at 4:29 a.m., reporting a blaze at the back of 3122 Long Beach Road, the D & D Convenience store, and upstairs apartments. Madden said the department used all of its equipment, and laid lines in the rear of the building and in the neighboring Ocean Chemist.

“We were able to contain the fire to D & D and the upstairs apartments because of the lines we laid next door,” he said. The other buildings, he added, sustained smoke and water damage, but will not have to be torn down.

The OFD called for mutual aid from Island Park, East Rockaway, Long Beach, Baldwin, Lynbrook, Freeport, Rockville Centre and Point Lookout. Island Park Chief James Sarro said that no one was hurt in the fire, and all the tenants got out.

“We responded, put up the ladder and went to work,” Sarro said. “Second Assistant Chief Mike Whalen and Third Assistant Chief Frank Eye were already there. They called for our Cascade unit, which we used to refill air bottles, and our ambulance.”

The Long Beach Fire Department sent its tower ladder, ambulance and engines, and East Rockaway assisted with fire suppression at the adjacent buildings, which helped prevent them from catching fire, and provided medical assistance to firefighters on the scene, under the direction of Chief Gene Torborg.

Rockville Centre firefighters, under the direction of Chief Robert Seaman, assisted with medical evaluations of firefighters and civilians and helped the Red Cross with victim placement.

Natividad Martine lives at 3116 Long Beach Road, one of the apartments affected by the fire. She was asleep and did not respond to the fire alarm going off in her apartment, but she said that firefighters came in and knocked on all the doors, waking her up and getting her and her children out in time. They were, however, unable to find their cat.

Nancy Wang, an employee of May King Chinese Restaurant, at 3110 Long Beach Road — at the end of the row of stores and apartments where the fire took place — said that the restaurant was not damaged. She added that the owner of the building, who lives in Pennsylvania, was not there at the time. Wang said that the staff was waiting to find out when they could begin cleaning, and expected to open again soon.

At press time, the Red Cross was housing more than 60 displaced residents at the Ramada Inn in Rockville Center.

Donations for the displaced families are being accepted at Oceanside Community Service, at 145-A Merle Ave. in Oceanside, and at 4217 Austin Blvd. in Island Park. Clothing for infants, children and adults is welcome.

The cause of the fire was being investigated.