Multiple Departments Respond to Blaze
Hicksville firefighters were alerted on Feb. 9 at 11:43 p.m. for a vehicle fire in the driveway of a home on Atlas Lane. The first arriving chief on scene, Assistant Chief Frank McGeough, reported a fully involved car fire under the car port and extending into the house. Flames were already 50 feet in the air. In spite of an aggressive attack by firefighters, a major portion of the home suffered heavy damage.
The fire originated in the engine compartment and spread rapidly, fueled by burning magnesium components of the car’s engine. All occupants escaped, with one person treated for smoke inhalation and transported to the medical center by Nassau County police.
Eighty Hicksville firefighters with 10 pieces of equipment responded under command of Chief of Department Edward Korona. Assisting Hicksville at the scene was a FAST TEAM from the Westbury Fire Department (a FAST team is required on scene by OSHA to be available to rescue trapped firefighters using special equipment and tactics) and a ladder company from East Meadow. Units from Levittown, East Meadow and Bethpage stood by at Hicksville headquarters on E. Marie St.
The Town of Oyster Bay building inspector was requested, along with a request for the county fire marshal. All units were up by 3 a.m.
