Blackheath Road [7-20-12]
Early on the morning of July 20th, the Point Lookout-Lido and Long Beach Fire Departments began receiving reports of a house fire around 06:40 hours. Long Beach was originally dispatched to smoke in the area of Cleveland Avenue and then began receiving multiple calls reporting a house fire behind 130 Maple Boulevard. As Long Beach began responding to their alarms, Point Lookout-Lido began receiving calls reporting a house fire on Blackheath Road. The calls stemmed from the same fire and were traced to a fully involved two story private dwelling at 711 Blackheath Road, just houses away from last year’s working fire on Redan Road. Those first on scene were met by a heavy fire load showing on all sides of the home and burning through the roof. Moments into operations firefighters were alerted to the possibility that there may be up to three people trapped in the home, including children. After primary and secondary searches of both floors were able to be made and checking with the neighbors, it was discovered that the occupants were in Florida at the time of the fire. A third battalion representative on scene was the first to transmit a signal ten and PLL Engine 255 did the same upon their arrival.
Long Beach First Assistant Chief Cuevas [231A] was the initial incident command but then handed operations over to PLL First Assistant Chief Jimmy Walsh [2501]. Point Lookout-Lido Engine 253 and Ladder 254 were among the first on scene from PLL while Long Beach had Engine 2343 and Ladder 2372 first on scene from their department. Freeport responded with Tiller 218 to the scene as the FAST team and Engine 216 to standby in PLL Headquarters at 102 Lido Boulevard. During operations the members of Freeport Truck were put to work and Island Park became the new FAST team. Island Park responded to the scene with Ladder 223. In 223’s place, a Baldwin ladder was standing by at Island Park headquarters on Long Beach road. Aside from the Freeport engine, Point Lookout-Lido had an Oceanside ladder standing by as well. Because Long Beach had sent a great deal of their units to fight the early morning blaze, standby was needed to cover their headquarters as well. This void was filled by Oceanside Engine 248, Rockville Centre Ladder 447, and ambulances 4461 [RVC] and a Baldwin bus.
The fire marshal was requested to the scene due to the heavy fire load upon arrival. Multiple hand lines were put into operation off of 2343 and 255 to fight the fire and heavy overhaul needed to ensure the fire was completely contained. By eight in the morning, the main body of fire was knocked down and placed under control. The Town of Hempstead Building Department’s presence was also requested to the scene. One firefighter was transported from the scene in County Ambulance 2354 with second degree burns to his leg, and another was treated on scene with burns to his back. It was unknown if the second firefighter was transported and as many as two other firefighters were injured. As previously mentioned all fire departments were under the command of Point Lookout-Lido First Assistant Chief Walsh. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Read MoreLong Beach First Assistant Chief Cuevas [231A] was the initial incident command but then handed operations over to PLL First Assistant Chief Jimmy Walsh [2501]. Point Lookout-Lido Engine 253 and Ladder 254 were among the first on scene from PLL while Long Beach had Engine 2343 and Ladder 2372 first on scene from their department. Freeport responded with Tiller 218 to the scene as the FAST team and Engine 216 to standby in PLL Headquarters at 102 Lido Boulevard. During operations the members of Freeport Truck were put to work and Island Park became the new FAST team. Island Park responded to the scene with Ladder 223. In 223’s place, a Baldwin ladder was standing by at Island Park headquarters on Long Beach road. Aside from the Freeport engine, Point Lookout-Lido had an Oceanside ladder standing by as well. Because Long Beach had sent a great deal of their units to fight the early morning blaze, standby was needed to cover their headquarters as well. This void was filled by Oceanside Engine 248, Rockville Centre Ladder 447, and ambulances 4461 [RVC] and a Baldwin bus.
The fire marshal was requested to the scene due to the heavy fire load upon arrival. Multiple hand lines were put into operation off of 2343 and 255 to fight the fire and heavy overhaul needed to ensure the fire was completely contained. By eight in the morning, the main body of fire was knocked down and placed under control. The Town of Hempstead Building Department’s presence was also requested to the scene. One firefighter was transported from the scene in County Ambulance 2354 with second degree burns to his leg, and another was treated on scene with burns to his back. It was unknown if the second firefighter was transported and as many as two other firefighters were injured. As previously mentioned all fire departments were under the command of Point Lookout-Lido First Assistant Chief Walsh. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
