Suburban Fire Marshal

0840 Ronkonkoma, Nesconset, Farmingville and Lakeland Fire Departments are dispatched to a house fire at 12 Carl Street off School Street in the Ronkonkoma fire district. Units arrive to find an active fire on the upper level of a two-story occupied private dwelling. Crews pushed in with two lines and had the fire under control within 31 minutes of activation. All searches were negative, the truck crews opened the roof and FIre Marshals from the Town of Brookhaven and Detectives from the Suffolk Police Arson Squad are handling the investigation. Holtsville FD sent an engine to cover and Holbrook FD sent an ambulance to cover.  First Assistant Chief Murray was the incident commander.

2206 hours. A tractor trailer making a turn onto southbound Hawkins Avenue from Portion Road collided with an SUV. The impact resulted in damage to the diesel fuel saddle tank on the passenger side of the tractor. The Ronkonkoma Fire Department responds to the scene and transports one adult male with non-life threatening injuries. FD personnel control the leak and call for the Town of Brookhaven Fire Marshals Office for their haz-mat team. Units operated at the scene for approximately 2 hours. The Ronkonkoma Fire Department handled two additional alarms while operating at this scene. 

1000 hours. The Kings Park FIre Department responds to Old Northport Road near Indian Head Road in regards to a report of a traffic collision. Units arrive to find a single vehicle that had left the roadway, going through a chain link fence and was now resting up against a tree in someones yard. The occupants self extricated and sustained minor injuries. Both were transported via ambulance. 

 Selden Fire Department responded to a working structure fire on Loebel Street around 5:58 am Christmas morning. Under the command of Chief of Department Bill Xikis, responding members quickly knocked down the fire that started in the garage from spreading. Mutual aid from neighboring departments also responded to the scene. There were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brookhaven Fire Marshals Office.

2048 hours. The St. James Fire Department responds to a traffic collision on Moriches Road between Von Hagen Ave and Fairfield Drive. Units arrive to find that vehicle struck a tree and a utility pole, brining down the wires. The operator of the vehicle self-extricated and was transported via ambulance to the hospital with minor injuries. Power was out in the area for a few hours while PSE&G replaced the pole and restored the circuits. Chiefs Mills and Gonzales operated with engines 1, 3 Rescue 9 and ambulance 61. Photos courtesy of St. James FD.

The following photos are from the Kings Park, Smithtown, St. James and Hauppauge FIre Department holiday parades. If anyone has any from Ronkonkoma, Setauket, Centereach, Commack and Nesconset, please send them my way so I can add them here. 

Thanks to Joe Sperber and Greg Gottlieb for the photos.

1350 hours. The St. James Fire Department responds to a report of a fire in the St. James Laundromat at 473 Lake Avenue. Units arrive to find smoke in the building. A quick investigation finds a fire in one of the clothes dryers. FD personnel quickly extinguish the fire and clear the smoke from the building. The dryer was disconnected and the scene turned over to Fire Marshals from the Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety There were no injuries. Dave Mills was the Chief in charge and operated with St. James engines 1, 3 and Rescue 9. The Nesconset Fire Department also sent a unit to the scene. Photos courtesy of the St. James Fire Department.

The St. James FIre Department laid Ex-Captain and 40 year member Charles Masterson to rest today. Charlie, who passed on December 15th, was a longtime resident of St. James Charlie retired from the FDNY where he had been a Fireman in Ladder 26-2 and 26 and then a Fire Marshall in Manhattan. After retiring, Charlie went to work for Approved Fire Prevention doing sprinkler system inspections. He and I crossed paths and spoke often.  Charlie was the loving husband of Joan, the beloved father of Chuck (Lisa), Robert (Sierra), the cherished Grandpa of James, Sean, Liam and Kevin. Loving brother of Edward, Helen, Michael and the late Vincent. Funeral Mass was held today at 10 AM at St's. Philip & James Church, St. James, NY. Cremation Private.

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to NY Firefighters Burn Center, 21 Asch Loop Bronx, NY 10475. Charlie was a gentleman, a professional and an asset to the fire service and the community. Rest in peace my friend. 

1139 hours. The Commack Fire Department, Commack Ambulance (CVAC) and the Dix Hills Fire Department were all dispatched to a traffic collision on Commack Road near Imperial Gate. Units arrived to find a collision involving two vehicles. Crews from all agencies worked together to extricate, package and transport the occupants. 

Photos courtesy of Joe Sperber. 

1507 Ronkonkoma FD is dispatched to a report of a structure fire at Shenanigans at 228 Hawkins Avenue. Units arrived to find a fire in an exhaust fan. The fire was quickly extinguished and all mutual aids were cancelled. Ronkonkoma FD personnel vented the building, isolated the fan and went back into service. 

Uniformed and civilian employees of the Town of Smithtown Department of Public Safety bid farewell to Chief FIre Marshal Richard McKay during his final walk out this afternoon. Chief McKay hung up his hat after a 30 year career with the Town. In his time, Richard oversaw significant changes to the Town Fire Code, and helped introduce fire prevention to the Town residents through operation EDITH and other programs. Richards insight wisdom and leadership will surely be missed. We wish him health and happiness as he begins the next chapter in his life. The Town will appoint a New Chief Fire Marshal in the new year.

0137 hours. The Nesconset Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a vehicle fire at Third Generation Auto Body-767 Nesconset Highway.. Units arrived to find three vehicles burning in the lot with utility wires down and burning. FD personnel extinguished the fire from a distance and secured the  the area. A Smithtown Town Fire Marshal was requested to the scene by the fire department and the arson squad was requested through Suffolk Police. The fire was found to have been a result of an energized power line that came down on one of the vehicles.  There were no injuries.

1750 hours. The Smithtown Fire Department is dispatched to Millers Pond on Maple Avenue in regards to a report of a vehicle in the water. Units arrive to find a Toyota Camry submerged in the pond approximately 50 feet off shore. The lone occupant had already been removed by a passing motorist. FD personnel from Smithtown entered the water and checked to confirm that there were no other occupants within the vehicle. Smithtown FD EMS transported the victim and rescuer to the hospital. The St. James and Nesconset Fire Department Dive Teams were also at the scene. Suffolk County Park Rangers are investigating. 

1750 hours. Centereach Fire Department responds to a report of a car fire on Wood Road, north of Middle Country Road. Units arrive to find a Porsche Cayenne Turbo burning in front of 42 Wood Road. Chief of Department Robert Corley operated with Engines 2, 9 and Fire Police. Crews used hydraulic tools to enter the passenger compartment to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries. 

2334 hours. The Farmingville Fire Department is dispatched to a report of a house fire on Elder Avenue off of Blue Point Road. Arriving units encounter heavy fire in a two story multiple dwelling. Crews made an aggressive push but were forced back due to the heavy volume of fire. Multiple lines hand lines and a tower ladder were used to extinguish the fire. The fire was placed under control at approximately 0440 hours. Coram Fire Department sent an engine,  Medford Ambulance sent a rig  to Farmingville to cover. Medford FD sent an engine to the scene. Holbrook Fire Department sent an ambulance and an engine, Selden sent an engine to the scene,  Centereach sent a RIT to the scene, Holtsville sent a ladder to the scene, Ronkonkoma Fire Department sent an engine to the scene, North Patchogue FD sent an engine to the scene.   Crews were still on scene dealing with hot spots until mid day. Heavy machinery was brought in from the Town of Brookhaven to pull the remains of the structure apart so that the fire departments could fully extinguish the fire. Suffolk Police homicide detectives, Suffolk Police Arson detectives and Brookhaven Town Fire Marshals are investigating. 

St. James and Nesconset Fire Departments are dispatched at 0024 hours to a report of a house fire at 46 Farm Road. Units arrived to find heavy fire in a vacant two story wood frame dwelling (#35 Farm Road) set back approximately 200 feet from the road. This was an exterior operation due to a collapse of part of the building. Ryan Davis was the OIC and operated with units from St. James, Nissequogue, Nesconset, Smithtown, Stony Brook, Centereach and Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance.  The fire was placed under control at 0224 hours. Smithtown Fire Marshals and Suffolk arson handle the investigation. Deck gun from engine 4-3-3 as well as a 2 ½ and two 1 ¾ hand lines were utilized. There were no injuries. 

Ronkonkoma FD responds to a carbon monoxide alarm activation at 11 Moriches Road. Units arrived to find the house filled with smoke and a fire around the oil burner. The fire was quickly extinguished and the house vented. There were no injuries. The Nesconset Fire Department sent their rescue truck to assist with ventilation. 

Nesconset Fire Department responds to an activated fire alarm at the Old Nesconset Elementary School next to fire headquarters. Arriving units encounter a smoke condition in the building. The alarm is retransmitted as a structure fire bringing units from St. James, Lakeland, Ronkonkoma and Centereach to the scene. The problem was found to be within a heating unit. The unit was shut down, the building vented and all units were back in service within an hour. 

Brentwood FD responds to 16 Hewes Street in regards to a structure fire. Units arrive to find heavy fire in the basement of a two story private dwelling. Crews stretch while mutual aid is requested from Central Islip, Islip Terrace, Deer Park, Ebay Shore, East Brentwood and Commack. Crews pushed in as the fire advanced to the second floor. The fire was knocked down within an hour. 

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a crash that seriously injured a teenage pedestrian in Commack yesterday evening.
 
George Geevarghese was driving a 2003 Jaguar X-Type southbound on Kings Park Road when he struck a 16-year-old male pedestrian, who may have been crossing the road from east to west, at approximately 7:20 p.m.
 
The pedestrian, a Chinese national attending school in the United States and residing in Commack, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital in serious but stable condition. Geevarghese, 69, of Commack, was not injured.
 
The vehicle was impounded for a safety check.
 
The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Information above is from SCPD Press Release.