Suburban Fire Marshal

 1100 hours. Centereach firefighters are dispatched to a traffic collision on Horseblock Road. Units arrive to find a collision involving a motorcycle and a Toyota sedan. The operator of the motorcycle, George Kellerman, a member of the Centereach Fire Department, was transported to Stony Brook Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Toyota, Jose Diaz Benitez and his two year old son, who was also in the vehicle, were not injured. According to Suffolk Police, Benitez had no drivers license and made an illegal U-turn in front of Kellerman. Suffolk Police issued Benitez tickets for both infractions. 

 I have known George for 20 years. He was a true gentleman with a constant smile on his face. Rest in peace my friend.

1347. The Hauppauge Fire Department responds to a report of a vehicle fire at 336 Lincoln Blvd. Arriving units encountered a fully involved Ford pickup truck in the driveway. Hauppauge operated with an engine (3-8-14) and truck (Rescue 3-8-9). Suffolk County Police Arson detectives were called in to investigate. 

0639 hours. The Hauppauge Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a commercial building fire at 551 Veterans Highway, near Route 347. Units arrived to find smoke pushing from a single story Chemex pool maintenance and supply company. While crews forced entry and stretched in, mutual aid was requested from the Smithtown, Central Islip and Nesconset Fire Departments. Central Islip Hauppauge Ambulance and Commack Ambulance both sent units to the scene. 

The fire was quickly located and extinguished. While damage was extensive, the fire did not involve any chemicals, which were stored elsewhere. There were no injuries. Fire Marshals from the Town of Islip were on scene. Assistant Chief Ron Walker was the Incident commander.

Ronkonkoma Fire Department responds to Expressway Drive South and Ronkonkoma Ave. Units arrive to find that a motorcycle left the roadway, hitting a guard rail and then a fence. The operator was transported with non-life-threatening injuries. 

0320 hours. The Hauppauge Fire Department was dispatched along with Suffolk Police to a report of a rubbish fire at 584 Veterans Highway. Units arrived and found a garbage can burning in front of the business, with fire extending up onto the building. The fire was quickly extinguished. Two businesses within the building sustained smoke damage and there was minor fire damage out front. The Suffolk County Police Department Arson squad was quickly notified and after a thorough investigation, a homeless  adult male, Robert Pearlman, 42, was arrested and charged with arson in the 4th degree. 

 No injuries were reported.

*Arrest information above comes via Suffolk County Police.

1945 hours. Setauket Fire Department is dispatched to an activated fire alarm at the Brookhaven Cat Hospital at 60 Route 25A. Units arrive to find heavy smoke pushing out of the cat hospital and the exposures. An incoming engine picked up a hydrant and crews stretched three lines on the fire. Mutual aid was requested from Centereach for a RIT, Port Jefferson for a ladder, Stony Brook for an engine and a ladder, Terryville for a ladder, Selden for an engine and St. James for an engine. Nesconset and Port Jefferson Ambulance sent rigs to the scene. the fire was located and knocked down with 30 minutes. Crews opened the roof, searched the building and overhauled. The fire area was secured and the Town of Brookhaven Fire Marshals were called in to handle the investigation. Numerous cats housed within the animal hospital died.

1715 hours. The Centereach Fire Department is dispatched to a vehicle fire near the Verizon Wireless store in the parking lot of the Smith Haven Mall. Units arrive to find an active fire in the engine compartment of a Nissan Murano. The fire was quickly extinguished. There were no injuries The Lake Grove Fire Marshals Office was called in to document the incident. 

October is Fire Prevention month. As such, most of the Township and Village Fire Departments hold their annual open house events. St. James held theirs today. Photos courtesy of the St. James Fire Department.

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a crash that killed a motorcyclist in Centereach. 

At approximately 2005 hours, Steven Benjamin was operating a 2005 KTM motorcycle westbound on Middle Country Road when he collided with a 2010 Jeep Liberty that had been traveling eastbound on Middle Country Road and was making a left turn onto Eastwood Blvd. 

Benjamin, 26, of Selden, was transported to Stony Brook Hospital by Centereach Fire Department ambulance where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Jeep, a 17 year old female from Selden, remained at the scene and was not injured. 

The motorcycle and the Jeep were impounded for safety checks. Detectives are asking anyone with information about this incident to call the sixth squad at 631-854-8652. 

Details above are from SCPD Press Release 18-564767

Hauppauge Engine 4 firefighter Steve Matteo received the Islip Town Fire Chiefs Association Medal of Valor for his part in the rescue of an adult male trapped in a traffic collision with vehicle fire on Townline Road on 7-19-2017. Congratulations Steve.

Engine 1 Members recieved a unit citation from the Islip Town Fire Chiefs Association for their work in reviving a person with CPR and an AED. Congratulations men. From left to Right Ex-Chief Ronald Barz, Ex-captain Tim Juliano, Andrew Mendola. John Malone,Lieut. Sean Fallona, Ex-Capt. Nick Mendola accepting the award on the behalf of his son Lieut. Michael Mendola and Joseph Mendola.

0004 hours. An adult male was arrested by Suffolk Police after the vehicle he was operating left the roadway and struck an out building at the Obadiah Smith house on St. Johnland Road in Kings Park. The lone occupant was evaluated by the EMS units from the Kings Park Fire Department and then transported to the 4th precinct in Hauppauge by police. The 300 year old historic building sustained significant damage and was pushed off its base. A Fire Marshal and a Park Ranger from the Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety were also on scene.

1630 hours. The Holtsville Fire Department is dispatched to a structure fire at 971 Waverly Avenue. Units arrived to find a fire at the Winters Brothers Carting Company. Mutual aid was immediately requested from Lakeland (engine), Ronkonkoma (ladder), Holbrook (ladder) North Patchogue (RIT), Farmingville (engine) and Medford to cover. The fire was quickly knocked down. There were no injuries.

The Ronkonkoma Fire Department responds to Carroll and Union Avenues in regards to a report of a traffic collision. Units arrive to find a crash involving two vehicle with one, a small Chevrolet, on its side. FD personnel stabilized the Chevy and then extricated the occupant of the through the windshield opening. The occupants of both vehicles were evaluated by EMS and transported accordingly. 

1315 hours. CI Hauppauge Community Ambulance is dispatched to a traffic collision on Old Nichols Road in the vicinity of CI Fire Department Station 3. Crews arrive with Suffolk Police and find that a 15 year old boy had been hit by a 2008 Honda Civic that had been traveling southbound on Old Nichols. EMS personnel packaged the victim and transported him to an awaiting Suffolk County Police Helicopter. He was flown to Stony Brook where he is listed in critical condition. 

The 57 year old driver of the vehicle that struck the boy, remained on scene. She was not injured. 

Information comes via SCPD press release 18-559998

2000 hours. Suffolk Police and the Nesconset Fire Department were dispatched to a report of a traffic collision on Rosevale Ave. Units arrived to find that a 26 year old male had been struck by a vehicle. The victim, Kevin Hartnett of Ronkonkoma was transported to Stony Brook Hospital by the Nesconset Fire Department. The driver of the vehicle (a 2018 Audi A6), a 42 year old male from Centereach, was arrested by Suffolk Police and charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. He was held overnight at the Third Precinct. The road was closed until approximately midnight for the police investigation. Information in this story came from SCPD Press release 18-560783.

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) announced that legislation he sponsored to rename a portion of Jericho Turnpike in honor of Commack resident Christopher Raguso, who lost his life earlier this year heroically serving our nation in Iraq, has been signed into law.  The legislation will ceremonially name a 7-mile stretch of Route 25 from East Deer Park Road in Dix Hills to St. Johnland Road in Smithtown as the "Lt. Christopher J. Raguso FDNY-CFD Memorial Highway.” 

Lt. Raguso’s widow Carmela said, “Chris was an extraordinary husband and father.  He loved his country and his community and ultimately gave his life that others may live.  We miss him tremendously every day.  The outpouring of support and love gives our hearts comfort during this very difficult time.”

“Lt. Christopher Raguso is a true American hero who repeatedly stepped up to protect his country and community.  He served honorably and selflessly, and our hearts are broken for his family and friends.  His love of country and serving others is reflected in his years of dedicated military and firefighter service, and that will forever stand as an example for others to follow.  It is my hope that this recognition serves as an everyday reminder of the courageous sacrifice Lt. Raguso made on behalf of this great nation.  We owe him a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid, and we will continue to be here for his beautiful family,” stated Senator Flanagan.

As an HH-60G special missions aviation flight engineer with the rank of Master Sergeant, Raguso was tragically killed, along with six of his fellow service members, in a military helicopter crash in Iraq on March 15th.  He was serving in Iraq as part of the 106th Rescue Wing, which is stationed at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach.

In addition to serving the nation in the military, he was a respected member of the Commack Volunteer Fire Department since 2000 and a 13-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department since 2005, where he served in both Ladder Company 113, Flatbush, Brooklyn, and Engine Company 302, Jamaica, Queens.  During his service in the FDNY, he was honored six times for bravery and lifesaving actions.

Lt. Raguso is survived by Carmela, and their two daughters, Eva and Mila.

The renaming of the roadway calls for the installation of commemorative signage on the roadway.

The Nesconset, Ronkonkoma and St. James Fire Departments were dispatched to a report of a structure fire at the Wild Ginger Restaurant at 69 Smithtown Blvd. Crews encountered a smoke condition in the building and after a quick search, located a small fire in a storage room. The fire was extinguished and the area secured. A Fire Marshal from the Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety was called in to investigate the fire and to address a number of violations within the building. The restaurant was not permitted to reopen until an inspection was performed by the Suffolk County Health Department. At least one summons was issued by the Fire Marshal. there were no injuries and all units were back in service within an hour. 

At approximately 2324 hours, a subject pulled into the parking lot of the bluff, exited their vehicle and the vehicle continued into the water. Suffolk Police and Park Rangers arrived and interviewed the subject, who was not injured. Smithtown Bay Constables,  NYS Encon Police and divers from SCPD returned to the scene at first light to locate and remove the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.