Fire causes heavy damage to South Farmingdale home; 4 firefighters injured, police say

Four firefighters suffered smoke inhalation while battling a blaze that heavily damaged a home in South Farmingdale, Nassau police said.

The fire at the home on Plitt Avenue was reported in a 911 call at 5:44 p.m. Wednesday, police said. Firefighters from seven departments responded to find the home "engulfed in flames," police said.

The homeowner, his daughter and two dogs escaped the home before firefighters arrived, police said. No one one was injured. 

Investigators believe embers from an outdoor grill ignited the rear of the home and initial indications are that the fire was accidental, police said. The cause remains under investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office, police Arson Bomb Squad investigators and the Town of Oyster Bay Building Department.

Firefighters from Bethpage, East Farmingdale, Farmingdale, Massapequa, North Amityville, North Massapequa and South Farmingdale responded and were able to extinguish the fire. The four firefighters were treated for minor smoke inhalation and released, police said.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

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.”