Story and Photos by Ex-Captain Steve Grogan

On Father’s Day, June 15, 2008, the volunteers of the Lynbrook Fire Department, under the command of Fire Chief John O’Reilly, fought a house fire at 323 Bixley Heath.

Lynbrook firefighters were called to the house at about 3:30 PM after the fire allegedly began while the homeowner was doing repairs to his upstairs bathroom.  When Chief O’Reilly arrived on the scene heavy smoke was billowing from the attic vents and the fire had already broken through the roof at the rear of the house.  He broadcast a “Signal 10” for a working fire.

Tally-Ho Engine 423 was first on the scene and took the hydrant directly across the street from the house.  They stretched two hand lines taking one up the front staircase to the second floor to fight the fire.  Engine Company 421, arrived and took the second line as a back-up.  Truck Company 427 put its bucket in front of the house and put firefighters on the roof to open other areas of the roof.  Firefighters fighting the fire in the  tight upstairs hallway found that the fire had spread quickly from the bathroom into the ceiling and attic above them and above both adjoining bedrooms.  Although the fire had vented itself out of the roof above the bathroom the roof rafters in other parts of the attic were burning intensely.  Vulcan Company 422, and Hose Company 424, supplied additional manpower and relief.  The Emergency Medical Company 425 stood-by to assist the injured.

The fire was bought under control in about 20 minutes and the overhaul of the second floor continued for over an hour.

During the height of the fire, Chief O’Reilly requested a mutual aid for a “fast team” from the East Rockaway FD, while a ladder and engine from the Valley Stream FD stood-by at the Carpenter Avenue firehouse to cover additional Lynbrook alarms.  Hewlett FD also sent an ambulance to stand-by, while Woodmere sent an ambulance to the scene.  No firefighters were injured fighting the fire.

Chief O’Reilly thanked the volunteers for their quick attack and efforts to extinguish the fire.  He also thanked the fire departments who responded on a mutual aid.