Local first responders rush to house fires

Posted

Long Beach firefighters had their hands full last weekend when they responded to house fires in Long Beach and Point Lookout.

On Friday at around 5 p.m., firefighters rushed to a blaze at 18 October Walk after spotting smoke coming from behind a home on West Walnut Street. They located the fire in the kitchen of the home and immediately extinguished it, Fire Department officials said.

Firefighters searched the house for potential hazards and found two dogs who suffered from smoke inhalation. The pets were brought outside where paramedics administered oxygen to them. One of the dogs died of smoke inhalation, and the other was transported to an area veterinary clinic, Long Beach Fire Commissioner Scott Kemins said.

No one was home at the time of the blaze and no injuries were reported.

Kemins said the fire appeared to be accidental, having started from the stove, adding that the Nassau County Fire Marshal is investigating.

The Long Beach Fire Department was assisted by the Island Park Fire Department, while the Oceanside, Point Lookout-Lido, Inwood and Lawrence-Cedarhurst fire departments were on standby.

The fire caused extensive damage to the kitchen, Kemins said, while the rest of the home sustained heat, smoke and water damage.

“It’s a relatively small house so unfortunately, even if the fire doesn’t reach something, the heat does, and it kind of melts things,” Kemins said.

Kemins added that it was unknown if the family members would be displaced.

Additionally, Long Beach first responders assisted the Point Lookout-Lido Fire Department in extinguishing two house fires on Bellmore Avenue in Point Lookout on Saturday at around 6 p.m.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, Point Lookout-Lido Fire Chief Brian Guerin said, adding that the blaze began when a car parked in one of the driveways went up in flames. The fire quickly spread to another car and then to the homes at 78 and 80 Bellmore Ave.

“It appears that the fire started in the cars and extended to the two adjacent houses,” Guerin said.

The fire was immediately extinguished and no injuries were reported. One homeowner was inside the home at 78 Bellmore Ave., Guerin said, but escaped. No one was inside the other home at the time.

Guerin said that the damage “mainly involved the exterior of the houses.”

The Point Lookout-Lido Fire Department received mutual aid assistance from nearby fire departments, including Long Beach, Island Park, Freeport, Baldwin, Oceanside and Atlantic Beach Rescue.