Fire erupts at home on Green Valley Road

The East Meadow Fire Department learned a fire had erupted at a home on Green Valley Road in East Meadow on May 12 after receiving an emergency call about “smoke in the basement.”

Within two minutes, East Meadow Chief John Priest was on the scene and announced a signal 98, which indicated firefighters should connect a hose to a hydrant. Meanwhile, assistant chiefs Robert Salvesen Jr. and James Kane geared up to fight the fire.

In the seconds that followed, Chief Priest transmitted a signal 10, calling all stations for mutual aide for a working fire as churning back smoke billowed out from the basement windows on the left side of the home.

Moments later, Ladder 617 was stationed in front of the home, immediately followed by Engine 611 and Engine 612.

Three hoses were put into place to gain control as the one-room fire continued to be destructive. Ladder 619, arriving after the initial alert, deployed crews to assist the ladder operations and search the upper floors. 


Within ten minutes, all visible fire had been knocked down, as additional resources from Engines 3, 4 and rescue companies readied for additional assignments.

As the smoke cleared, firefighters could see the extent of the damage. With one room totally gutted and the entire basement scorched with heat damage that banked down from the ceiling, it became evident that the performance of our department was a credit to all who responded.

The EMFD Ladies Auxiliary responded with liquid refreshments to hydrate exhausted firefighters. In all, 84 East Meadow volunteer firefighters and medical technicians responded to the fire with approximately 25 more volunteers from neighboring departments in North Bellmore, North Merrick, Uniondale and Hempstead, who either assisted at the scene or covered empty East Meadow firehouses. There were no injuries.

Damage to the home from fire, heat and water could exceed $50,000.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office.