Pearl Street [5-16-16]

Late on the afternoon of Monday, May 16th, 2016 the Oceanside Fire Department was called to assist at the scene of a water main break on Pearl Street between Ocean and Rockaway Avenues. Due to the close proximity to East Rockaway the fourth battalion was also notified and operated. Upon arrival firefighters encountered a significant amount of water that was still rising. As a result, occupants of several Pearl Street homes were trapped in their homes. Firefighters made their way to these homes and were able to safely remove these occupants and secure the utilities of these homes. Engines from both departments were able to draft the water from the street and pump it into nearby canals. No injuries were reported and the last fire department units left the scene just over three hours into the operation. Oceanside Chief of Department JT Madden [241] had command of the incident while East Rockaway Chief Gene Torborg oversaw operations on the East Rockaway side.