Port Washington had one of the biggest blazes in recent history Tuesday night, when a garage on Prospect Avenue exploded and destroyed the house behind it, killing one man and sending flames over 50 feet into the air.
A law enforcement source said the dead man has been identified, but they are not yet releasing his name.
The explosion was heard as far as a mile away, causing a five alarm fire that saw between 150 and 200 firefighters respond from area 23 departments.
Watch Explosion Aftermath Video Here
“It appears the fire started in the garage and spread to the house behind it,” Port Washington Fire Department First Assistant Chief Brian Waterson told The Port News.
The two-story garage at 10 Prospect Ave. was flattened and the house behind it, at 11 Second Ave., was gutted.
As firemen fought the fire, “Our main goal was to prevent it from spreading to other structures,” Waterson said.
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Several residents on Prospect Avenue and Second Avenue said their houses were singed, but spoke highly of the job done by firemen.
“I wouldn’t have a house if it wasn’t for them,” said Prospect Avenue resident John Ball. “At times the flames were well over the treetops.”
The Port Washington Fire Department and other responders began fighting the fire around 8:30 p.m. It was contained around midnight and firemen stayed until roughly 3 a.m. to take care of “hot spots,” or areas that can flare up.
The incident started a little before 8:30 p.m., when police were called to 10 Prospect Ave. At the house, they were met by a 39-year-old woman and a two-year-old.
Police immediately detected the strong odor of gasoline and evacuated the people from the house, Nassau County Police Lieutenant Gary Shapiro said.
As they were brought to safety, the detached garage exploded into flames, Shapiro said.
