November 14, 2023, 0457 hours. The Central Islip Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a house on fire at 48 Cocoanut Street off Ferndale Blvd. Units arrive to find a fire in a garage illegally converted to sleeping space. The occupants escaped without injury. Firefighters had the fire extinguished within 10 minutes and operated for approximately 90 minutes. Islip Town Fire Marshals and Building Inspectors were on scene. Suffolk Arson and the Central Islip Fire Marshal handled the fire investigation. Mutual aid was provided at the scene by the Islip, East Islip and Islip Terrace Fire Departments, while the Hauppauge and East Brentwood Fire Departments sent units to cover for the duration. Central Islip Hauppauge Ambulance also had a unit on scene. Photos courtesy of Evan Rolla and Ken Bradbury.
