Hewlett Avenue [8-9-13]
On the night of August 9th, the Merrick Fire Department was dispatched to a reported building fire at St. Demetrius Greek Orthodox located at 2421 Hewlett Avenue [London Court and Cornell Place on the cross streets]. Multiple calls were being received by emergency dispatchers reporting flames from the doors and windows of the house of worship. Upon arrival first due Empire Engine 641 was met with heavy fire showing from the front of the church in the vestibule area. Firefighters immediately stretched a two and half inch hose line up the front stairs and began knocking down the fire [three lines were eventually stretched and put into operation]. The initial size up of the building stated it was approximately two hundred by three hundred feet and so extensive mutual aid was needed to the scene and to backfill the houses in Merrick.
Merrick Ladder 6411 was the first truck company on the scene of what would become a second alarm fire. Ladder 6411 took to the front of the building and extended the ladder up to the roof made of slate and with various copper domes. Additional ladders on the scene included North Merrick L673 [the original FAST who was put to work], Freeport Tiller 218, Wantagh L6911, North Bellmore L657 [became the second FAST and saw work], and Baldwin L207 [became the third FAST]. Also on the scene were Seaford Ambulance 684, North Bellmore Engine 654, and a rehab unit from Wantagh among others. East Meadow Ladder 617, Bellmore Ambulance 6011, and units from Roosevelt were providing stand by coverage for Merrick during the operation. North Bellmore Ambulance 651 later transported a Merrick firefighter from the scene to the county medical center for smoke inhalation. Despite a large body of fire on arrival firefighters had the main body of fire knocked down within thirty minutes. After the blaze was contained firefighters and nearby residents helped to pull various religious pieces from the Church. The cause of the fire remained under investigation and the fire marshal was requested to the scene to look into the origin of the fire.
Read MoreMerrick Ladder 6411 was the first truck company on the scene of what would become a second alarm fire. Ladder 6411 took to the front of the building and extended the ladder up to the roof made of slate and with various copper domes. Additional ladders on the scene included North Merrick L673 [the original FAST who was put to work], Freeport Tiller 218, Wantagh L6911, North Bellmore L657 [became the second FAST and saw work], and Baldwin L207 [became the third FAST]. Also on the scene were Seaford Ambulance 684, North Bellmore Engine 654, and a rehab unit from Wantagh among others. East Meadow Ladder 617, Bellmore Ambulance 6011, and units from Roosevelt were providing stand by coverage for Merrick during the operation. North Bellmore Ambulance 651 later transported a Merrick firefighter from the scene to the county medical center for smoke inhalation. Despite a large body of fire on arrival firefighters had the main body of fire knocked down within thirty minutes. After the blaze was contained firefighters and nearby residents helped to pull various religious pieces from the Church. The cause of the fire remained under investigation and the fire marshal was requested to the scene to look into the origin of the fire.
