7 firefighters hurt in N. Bay Shore blaze

Suffolk Police are investigating a North Bay Shore fire that sent three firefighters to the hospital and destroyed a house early Sunday morning.

The fire, in the 1100 block of Brookdale Avenue, fully engulfed the home, a spokesman for the Brentwood Fire Department said. A boat, a shed and two cars next to the house were also destroyed, the spokesman said.

At least a half dozen occupants were evacuated from the home, the spokesman said. The home's owner was treated for smoke inhalation, said the spokesman, who declined to identify the owner.

Property records state that the home is owned by Dominic DiPalma. Attempts to reach DiPalma were not successful.

The injured firefighters were treated and released from Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, a spokesman for the Brentwood Fire Department said. The names of the firefighters, who are members of the Brentwood department, were not released by the department spokesman.

One of the hospitalized firefighters suffered exhaustion, one suffered a knee injury and the other first-degree minor burns, the spokesman said.

Four other firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries, the spokesman said.

The home caught fire at about 2 a.m. and firefighters had it under control by about 3:30 a.m., the spokesman said. The home is located in a residential neighborhood north of the Southern State Park and south of the Long Island Rail Road tracks.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the blaze, a police spokeswoman said.

The Central Islip, West Islip and Bay Shore fire departments all provided mutual aid, the Brentwood fire department spokesman said.