Fire causes 'extensive' damage to Seaford home, police say

An early morning blaze ripped through a home in Seaford Tuesday, causing what police and fire officials described as "extensive" and "severe" damage despite the efforts of more than 100 firefighters from a dozen departments.

Assistant Chief Nassau County Fire Marshal James Hickman said firefighters were hampered by strong, gusting winds, but said there were no reported injuries.

Nassau County police said the fire at the home on Bryant Drive was reported in a 911 call at 4:42 a.m. Firefighters arrived at the two-story house to find it fully engulfed and all residents safely evacuated, according to police.

Hickman said that while the investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing Tuesday, preliminary indications are it began on or near the rear deck of the home — and then spread to the interior. He said it appears there were no working smoke detectors in the home and said that so far, investigators have been unable to determine the cause.

Seaford was the host department at the scene, though Hickman said that between 100 and 125 firefighters from a total of 12 departments battled the blaze.

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.”