House in Hempstead seriously damaged in blaze, fire marshal says

Four occupants of a home in Hempstead escaped without injury Friday morning after the two-story property was engulfed in flames, according to the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office.

The blaze was reported on the second floor of the Morrell Street home at 11:14 a.m. and 50 firefighters from the Hempstead, West Hempstead, South Hempstead and Rockville Centre fire departments responded to the scene, said Michael Uttaro, the county's chief fire marshal

The fire was brought under control within an hour and the four occupants of the home self-evacuated, officials said. There were no injuries to firefighters.

The home, which suffered serious damage, had working smoke detectors, Uttaro said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation and the Red Cross was assisting 10 adults who lived in the home.