5 firefighters hurt in New Hyde Park blaze

At least five New Hyde Park firefighters were hospitalized with smoke inhalation - one in critical condition - after battling a basement house fire, Nassau police and fire officials said Friday.

The firefighter in critical but stable condition was taken to Nassau University Medical Center and was undergoing hyperbaric chamber treatment before going into intensive care, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Three firefighters were taken to Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, a hospital spokesman there said. Two were later released, a fire official said.

A fifth firefighter was taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, the official said. It was unclear if that firefighter was still hospitalized.

Vincent McManus of the county fire marshal's office said the blaze was not suspicious. Police said arson investigators were looking into the cause.

The fire broke out just before 1 p.m. in a home on Sixth Avenue in New Hyde Park. It took firefighters about an hour to bring it under control, according to police.

All the firefighters who were injured were in the home's basement when "there was an eruption of flames," Nassau police Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said.

New Hyde Park Fire Chief John Willers said, "The fire at one point flared up on them."

Some of those injured were able to escape up the stairs and one made it out through a basement window. Another had to be rescued from the basement by fellow firefighters, McManus said.

Two occupants, an older man and his home health aide, had been in the single family Cape Cod-style house when they noticed the fire in the basement. They called 911 and got out of the house without injury.

With Matthew Chayes