On October 12, 2024 at 8:37pm, while just completing operations at two fire calls, radios blared with Nassau County Firecom announcing a general alarm for a bedroom fire on Greenbelt Lane.
Within one minute, Chief of Department James Walsh and 2nd Asst Chief Kurt Becker, were on the road, quickly followed by Ladder 617, Engine 614, Engine 612, and the balance of East Meadow’s 1st alarm assignment in Engine 613, Engine 611, Ladder 619, Heavy Rescue 616, and Ambulance 615.
First on the scene were Ladder 617 and Engine 614.
Just prior, as he approached the scene, Asst Chief Kurt Becker transmitted a Signal 10 (Working Fire: Reinforced the initial response, adding a preplan mutual aid response including a Rapid Intervention Team).
Immediately on their arrival, the crew of Engine 614 connected to the fire hydrant in front of the home and stretched 3 attack hose lines to the fire, as ladder company members began to search and confine the fire, all as next in units converged on the scene to support the effort.
Within 15 minutes all visible fire had been knocked down as firefighters began the assignments of checking for hidden pockets of fire during the final extinguishment.
Although firefighters were able to confine the fire to a bedroom on the left side, the balance of the home sustained serious heat and water damage.
The mutual aid plan brought in units from the Hicksville FD, Westbury FD, Levittown FD, North Merrick FD, and Wantagh FD, either to the scene or to cover East Meadow’s empty fire stations in the event of other calls.
In all, 58 East Meadow volunteers responded to the blaze, with another 25 firefighters responding on the mutual aid requests.
There were no injuries.