Fire at Alexander Hamilton Apartments

Story & photos by  Ex Captain Steven Grogan

For the first time in known history, the Lynbrook Fire Department under the command of Chief Carl Lengel responded to a fire at the Alexander Hamilton apartments on Merrick Road and Curtis Place at about 1:30 AM on Saturday morning, September 9, 2017.  The firefighters were dispatched for a report of smoke in an apartment on the third floor of the three  story small apartment complex.  Tally-Ho was first at the scene and took the hydrant across the street on Merrick Road.  One line was stretched up to the third floor.  With the arrival of Truck Company, and led on the fire floor by Chief William Abrams, ceilings were pulled after smoke was visible and could even be seen from outside, but there was no visible fire in the apartment.   Rockville Centre sent a ladder to the scene after they were called on a mutual aid.  With the assistance of other arriving fire companies, a second line was taken off Tally-Ho and stretched to the front door.  With the ceilings pulled a fire was found burning in the ceiling and in the roof rafters.  The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to a small area.  Firefighters were at the scene for about an hour.