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Central Islip FD-State Hospital Firehouse is torched

April 28, 2013, 1400 hours. The Central Islip Fire Department responds to a report of a fire on the grounds of the former Central Islip State Hospital (now the NY Institute of Technology). Units arrive to find the abandoned firehouse burning at Lowell Avenue and Juniper Street. The 100 year old firehouse was fully involved and had already partially collapsed. Chief of Department Ed Freudenberg operated with his members as well as firefighters from the Hauppauge, East Brentwood, Islip Terrace, Lakeland, Brentwood and East Islip Fire Departments. Two tower ladders, multiple master streams and numerous large lines were used to extinguish the fire. The Town of Islip brought in heavy equipment to raze the building, allowing firefighters to complete extinguishment and to render the remains of the building safe. It took firefighters over three hours to extinguish this fire, as well as numerous brush fires that were a result of flying embers. There were no injuries. All units cleared from the scene by 1730 hours.

First photo below is by Tom Kirsch.

The State hospital fire department was established in 1907 with ten firefighters. This firehouse was constructed in 1913 and was known as building 99. It closed in 1996.

Photos below are courtesy of Ben Bradbury-Brentwood Fire Photo.

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