12 homeless after Central Islip fire

About a dozen people are homeless after a fire damaged part of their residence in Central Islip, authorities said.

Edward Freudenberg, chief of the Central Islip Fire Department, said his department received word of a fire at a home on Fig Street at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

When fire crews arrived, they found smoke coming from the single-family house. Ten residents who were in the house had escaped on their own, he said.

Freudenberg said the blaze, which appeared to be an electrical fire that started in a front bedroom, was extinguished in about 10 minutes. The structure was left with fire damage to one room and smoke and water damage in other parts of the home.

Volunteers from the Long Island Red Cross provided food and clothing to six adults and six children associated with the home, spokesman Craig Cooper said. The residents, who appeared to be an extended family, found shelter with other family members and friends, he said.