Yale Road [5-23-17]

Around 03:30 hours on the morning of Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 the Merrick Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a house on fire in the vicinity of Lindenmere Drive and Yale Road. When firefighters arrived on scene they were met with a fully involved private dwelling that was vacant, under construction, and posing exposure problems. A signal ten [working fire] was transmitted and quickly followed by the transmission of a second alarm bringing additional resources to the scene. Within the first few minutes of the operation the original fire building came down. Fortunately, firefighters were utilizing a defensive attack since arriving on scene. North Merrick was designated the FAST for the operation and responded with Ladder 673. Additional mutual aid was called from Freeport, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Point Lookout-Lido, and Wantagh among others. The cause of the fire was later deemed suspicious and all fire department units were under the command of Merrick Chief of Department Paul Scolieri [6400].