Fire causes partial house collapse in Lawrence
Multiple fire departments battled a house fire on Ocean Avenue in Lawrence on Tuesday afternoon, April 21, 2015. Part of the home collapsed after firefighters fought the blaze for more than three hours, a Nassau County fire official said. Credit: Lou Minutoli
Part of a Lawrence home collapsed in a blaze Tuesday as several fire departments battled for more than two hours to put it out, a Nassau County fire official said.
Flames erupted about 12:45 p.m. at a large, two-story residence on Ocean Avenue and were widespread when the first firefighters arrived, said Michael Uttaro, Nassau County assistant chief fire marshal.
At one point, portions of the roof, interior floor and ceiling began collapsing, and firefighters were ordered to evacuate, he said. Several tower ladders were used to spray water on the fire, he said.
Investigators believe an electrical malfunction caused the blaze, but the structural collapse left them unable to access the area where the fire likely started, Uttaro said.
A brother and sister live at the home, but they went out on an errand and came back to the fire, Uttaro said. No injuries were reported, he said.
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'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.
