5 escape Dix Hills house fire, officials say

Five people were able to escape a house fire that damaged a home in Dix Hills early Tuesday, fire officials said.

A 911 call reporting the fire was received at about 6 a.m.

First responders arrived at the home on Caledonia Road to find a second-floor bedroom ablaze, fire officials said.

Firefighters — about 40 from Dix Hills, with five trucks, three ambulances and a paramedic unit, as well as members of the Melville Rapid Intervention Team and the Town of Huntington Cyanide Response Team — battled the blaze, bringing it under control in about 45 minutes with Dix Hills Chief Robert Fling in command.

Officials said Greenlawn firefighters provided standby coverage.

The fire damage was contained to the second-floor bedroom, officials said, though there was widespread smoke damage to the home.

Initial indications were that the fire was accidental. The cause remains under investigation by the Suffolk County police Arson Squad and Town of Huntington fire marshal.

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.”