Victim of fatal fire in Bethpage identified
The Bethpage Fire Department responds to a fatal fire early Friday morning on Farm Ranch Road East in Bethpage. Credit: Kevin Imm
The victim of a fatal residential fire in Bethpage Friday has been identified, police said.
The Nassau County Police Homicide Squad Monday identified John R. Quevedo, 65, of Bethpage, as the victim of the early morning fire last week.
Nassau County police and the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office said Quevedo appeared to have been alone in the house on Farm Ranch Road East when the fire broke out. The blaze was reported in a 911 call at 2:04 a.m.
Nassau Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro said initial indications were the fire was accidental, but said the investigation was ongoing. He said it appeared there were "no operating smoke detectors found in the home."
Police said Arson/Bomb Squad and Homicide detectives also were investigating the incident, but that was standard procedure with serious or fatal fires.
Uttaro said four local departments with about 50 firefighters responded to the scene, under the command of Bethpage Fire Department Chief Kevin A. Isernia.
Also responding were Farmingdale, Levittown and Plainview, with three additional departments on standby. No other injuries were reported, Uttaro said.
Responding firefighters were met with what Uttaro described as "heavy fire conditions." He said the fire was brought under control in about 45 minutes, at which time firefighters were finally able to enter the home and discovered Quevedo .
A news release Friday said the sole occupant in the house was pronounced dead at 3:08 a.m. and taken to the Nassau County Medical Examiner’s Office.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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