E. Farmingdale firefighter hurt in roof collapse

An East Farmingdale firefighter was hospitalized Saturday after the roof of a burning building in Lindenhurst collapsed, burying the firefighter underneath, the department's fire chief said.

Eight fire departments responded to the fire at about 2 a.m. inside a commercial building on Gear Avenue, off Wellwood Avenue, in Lindenhurst, East Farmingdale fire chief James Yearsley said. As firefighters tried to enter the building, the roof and front wall of the building collapsed, he said.

The firefighter was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he remained Saturday. His name was not released. Three others were taken to hospitals, but not admitted, Yearsley said.

Firefighters used ladders and fire hoses to bring the blaze under control from outside the building. They remained on the scene late Saturday morning to cool off a handful of remaining hot spots beneath the wreckage, Yearsley said.