Suburban Fire Marshal

1845 hours. The Kings Park Fire Department responds to Sunken Meadow State Park in regards to a report of a subject struck by lightning at Field 3 of Sunken Meadow State Park.  When FD personnel arrived, Park Police and staff were performing CPR on a 32 year old male. FD personnel took over treatment and transported the victim to the hospital. The victim did not survive.

0759 hours. Hauppauge Fire Department responds with Central Islip-Hauppauge Community Ambulance to exit 56 on the westbound side of the Long Island Expressway. Units arrive to find that a vehicle left the roadway, overturned and landed in the wooded area between the expressway and the north service road. FD personnel along with SCPD ESU cleared an area to the vehicle and removed the roof to enable medical personnel to stabilize and remove the driver. The victim was transported by helicopter to Stony Brook Hospital. Assistant Chief Martinez operated with Rescue 3-8-9 and engines 11 and 14. Brentwood Legion ambulance and the Smithtown Fire Department both sent ambulances to the scene.

2230. Setauket FD responds to a report of a house fire at 2 Singingwood Lane off Indian Valley Road. Units arrive to find an active fire on a deck with extension to the structure (a two story private dwelling). A working fire is transmitted bringing an engine from Centereach, Stony Brook and Terryville, and a ladder from Port Jefferson. The fire was knocked down within fifteen minutes. There were no injuries. Fire Marshals from the Town of Brookhaven are investigating.

1928 hours. Commack Fire Department and Commack Ambulance respond to Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza at6401 Jericho Turnpike in regards to a report of a carbon monoxide emergency with victims. Crews arrived and found elevated levels of CO within the restaurant and adjoining Chocolate Works store. Both were evacuated and an investigation into the source of the leak commenced.

EMS personnel evaluated eight people complaining of symptoms consistent with exposure to CO. An employee of the restaurant was transported to the hospital for treatment. Huntington Town Fire Marshals are working with the Commack Fire District Fire Marshal to determine the cause.

Hauppauge Fire Department responds to 1340 Motor Parkway in regards t a traffic collision. Units arrive to find that the operator of a truck struck the fixed suppression canopy over a fuel island at a Sunoco station. There were no injuries. FD personnel isolated the pump island and the station operator was told to cease use of same until such time as the suppression system is repaired. Fire Marshals from the Village of Islandia were notified.

0259 hours. The Hauppauge Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a tractor trailer fire on the Long Island Expressway. Units arrive to find a Ford Excursion burning on the shoulder between exits 55-56 on the eastbound side. Engines 3-8-1 and 3-8-4 operated and made quick work of the fire. The vehicle was destroyed but crews kept the fire from extending to an attached trailer. Information and photos courtesy of GG.

At approximately 1850 hours, Grace Kunzig noticed an adult female in distress in front of her home at 186 Southern Boulevard in Hauppauge. Grace Kunzig alerted her husband, Hauppauge firefighter Larry Kunzig who was out in the backyard playing with his grandchildren. Firefighter Kunzig immediately went to the aid of the woman, quickly determining that she was in cardiac arrest. Firefighter Kunzig instructed Grace to call 911 while he began CPR. While the Nesconset Fire Department was being dispatched, Hauppauge Fire Department Lieutenant Michael Mendola, firefighter Andrew Mendola and firefighter Jonathan Munro heard the call go out and responded to the scene to assist. The four men continued to provide aid to the victim until Nesconset FD EMS and Stony Brook Hospital Medic 45 arrived a few minutes later. The victim was transported to Stony Brook hospital by Medic 45, where an emergency C section was performed. As of the time of this story, mother and baby are recovering thanks to the outstanding work of these Hauppauge Fire Department members.

There is an aside to this story that makes this incident even more special.

On New Years eve of 2017 (eight months ago), Firefighter Kunzig found his wife Grace unconscious and not breathing in their home. He immediately called for the Nesconset Fire Department along with the Hauppauge Fire Department while rendering the same aid to his wife. Lieutenant Michael Mendola and his brother, firefighter Andrew Mendola were two of the responders to the Kunzig home on New Years eve and assisted with CPR on Grace Kunzig.

Three people are alive today because of the actions of Hauppauge Firefighters Larry Kunzig, Andrew Mendola and Lieutenant Michael Mendola. They, along with their brother firefighters and medical personnel from the Hauppauge and Nesconset Fire Departments, as well as the crew in Medic 45 typify what the fire and EMS service is about. Great job to all involved!

The Lakeland Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a structure fire at 2020 Ocean Avenue. Units arrive to find an active fire on the roof of a large industrial building. Mutual aid was requested for tower ladders from Central Islip and Bohemia. Bohemia also sent their quint. A RIT was requested from Nesconset, an engine from Ronkonkoma and an ambulance from St. James. The fire was extinguished and placed under control within 30 minutes. There were no injuries. Photos courtesy of Amanda Coffey.

1300 hours. Dix Hills Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a house fire  at 1117 Carlls Straight Path. A standby crew from the Bethpage Fire Department was covering for Dix Hills and was first due, confirming an active fire on the upper level of a two story private dwelling. Crews from Bethpage and Dix Hills went to work while mutual aid was requested from Deer Park, and Commack VAC.

Port Jefferson Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a boat fire in the Long Island Sound. Chief of Department Brennan Holmes and his crew on Marine 6 arrived to find a fully engulfed 40 foot vessel approximately two miles north of Pirates Cove. Firefighters went right to work on the fire while confirming that the three occupants had been safely removed. Fire boats from Setauket, Stony Brook, Mt. Sinai and Miller Place Fire Departments also respond to the scene. All photos are courtesy of Brennan Holmes and the Port Jefferson Fire Department.

Fire is dispatched at 0622. Units arrive to find heavy fire in a detached single story wood frame garage. three lines are stretched and operate. Ryan Davis is Chief of Department and is the OIC. Mutual Aid from Stony Brook for a RIT, Nesconset, Setauket (ambulance to cover), Centereach (engine to cover), Smithtown (ladder to the scene). Fire placed under control at 0728 hours. Cause of the fire is under investigation by the Smithtown Fire Marshals Office and Suffolk PD Arson Squad. Photos Courtesy of Dennis Whittam

The Nesconset Fire Department responds to the BP Station at 762 Smithtown Bypass at 1610 hours in regards to traffic collision involving a small box truck and a fuel island. Units arrived to find that the operator of a rented truck struck one of the pumps, dislodging it from its base and severing two of the fuel lines feeding it. FD personnel shut down the pumps and stabilized the pump to prevent further damage. A wrecker was brought in to remove the truck, which was stuck on a concrete bollard (used to protect the pump. Once the truck was removed. units cleared the scene,. There were no injuries.

Friends and family got together at Nesconset FD headquarters tonight to say good bye to Assistant Chief Jim Savastano, who is retiring to Florida. Chief Savastano has been in Nesconset for 15 years after serving a number of years in the Central Islip Fire Department. Jim just retired from the fire department at MacArthur Airport.  We wish Chief Savastano well in the next chapter of his life. Thank you for your service and enjoy your retirement.

1340 hours. The Smithtown Fire Department is dispatched to Napper Tandy's on East Main Street in regards to a report of a structure fire. Arriving units encounter a smoke condition in the basement. Crews search the building and find an electrical fire in the basement. PSEG is called to the scene to terminate power to the building. The fire is then extinguished and the building vented. There were no injuries. First Assistant Chief Kevin Fitzpatrick was the OIC. The Hauppauge Fire Department sent an engine to cover for Smithtown for the duration of the incident.

2200 hours. The Centereach Fire Department is dispatched to carbon monoxide detector activation at the Good Steer Restaurant on Middle Country Road.  Units arrive and find all of the employees out of the building (which had already closed for the night). Crews search the building and encounter high CO readings in the basement of the building. The source is found to be a defective natural gas fired boiler and that unit is shut down. The building is vented and monitoring continued until such time as levels were within normal limits. The Lake Grove Fire Marshal was also on scene and ordered the system to remain locked and tagged out until repairs are made. The unit was serviced the next morning and the restaurant reopened for business at their normal time. There were no injuries.

0640 hours. The Nesconset Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a house on fire at 26 Standish Place off Southern Blvd. Units arrive to find heavy fire venting through the roof of a two story single family private dwelling. All occupants were out, uninjured and accounted for. Multiple hose lines are stretched and operate.  Tower ladders from Nesconset and Smithtown are put into service to vent and to monitor conditions due to a partial roof collapse. Primary and secondary searches are conducted and numerous cats are removed from the building. The fire is knocked down and placed under control within 40 minutes. Crews remained on scene for approximately 3 hours.

Mutual aid is provided at the scene by Lakeland, St. James, Smithtown, Hauppauge and Ronkonkoma. The cause of the fire is being investigated by Fire Marshals from the Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety.

The Nissequogue Fire Department was activated for a house fire on Smith Lane off Moriches Road. Units arrived and quickly extinguished a fire in a hallway closet. Fire damage was confined to the closet and smoke damage was minimal in the house. There were no injuries. Mutual aid provided at the scene by the St. James and Nesconset Fire Departments. All units were cleared from the scene within an hour. Fire Marshals from the Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety are investigating the cause of the fire.

The Stony Brook Fire Department responds to a report of a boat on fire in the marina at the Stony Brook Yacht Club. Units arrive to find an active fire in a 23 foot boat tied up to a floating dock. Two lines are stretched and crews extinguish the fire without incident. Mutual aid is provided at the scene by St. James and Setauket Fire Departments. The Town of Smithtown Bay Constables were also on scene with a boat. Fire Marshals from the Town of Brookhaven are handling the fire investigation.

Nesconset, St. James and Ronkonkoma Fire Departments respond to a reported house fire at 102 Lake Avenue in the Nesconset Fire District. Units arrive to find a fire in the kitchen of a single story dwelling. The fire is quickly extinguished. The area is overhauled, the house searched and vented and the scene is turned over the Fire Marshals from the Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety. Damage was confined to the kitchen.