2 Centerport homes damaged by fire, no one injured

Two Centerport homes were damaged Tuesday by a fire that began in a backyard shed, and quickly spread by way of bamboo plants to the buildings 15 feet away, officials said.

Only one person was home in one of the houses at the time of the fire and was not injured, officials said, but two firefighters were treated at Huntington Hospital for minor injuries and then released.

Centerport Fire Department Chief Robert Ciafardoni said they received the alarm on the fire on Mill Dam Road about 2 p.m. "It started as a shed fire and went from the shed to bamboo hedges next to it, and extended to the house." Ciafardoni said. "The firefighters performed extremely well in the extreme heat. It was brutal."

Although the shed was in the backyard at 180 Mill Dam Rd., the home next door at 176 Mill Dam Rd. suffered more damage, Ciafardoni said.

About 100 firefighters from Centerport and neighboring fire districts including Greenlawn, Northport, East Northport, Halesite, Huntington and Huntington Manor responded to the alarm. Within about 45 minutes, the fire was brought under control, Ciafardoni said. Damage to the house at 180 Mill Dam Rd. was limited to the structure's siding, but the home at 176 Mill Dam Rd. received more extensive damage to its siding, deck, and to that homes second floor and attic, Ciafardoni said.

The shed was completely destroyed, Ciafardoni said, adding that the cause of the fire is unknown, and still under investigation.