Deer Park apartment fire displaces residents of 56 units on Baldwin Path

A midday fire in Deer Park displaced the residents of 56 apartments in the Maple Crest complex on Sunday, according to fire authorities.

The blaze broke out on Baldwin Path in a brick two-story apartment building at 12:11 p.m., said Rudy Sunderman, the commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services.

One firefighter was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with a minor burn, he said.

The fire ripped through 10 apartments and caused smoke damage to another 12, Sunderman said. The gas and electricity had to be turned off to the entire building as a safety measure, the commissioner said.

"Residents will not be able to return to those locations at the present time," he said, but authorities are allowing people who live there to safely get essentials, like medication and clothing.

The Red Cross will provide housing for those residents who cannot stay with family and friends, "until the property manager can get the services back up," Sunderman said, estimating that it could take up to two days to return to the property.

The management of the Maple Crest complex could not be reached for comment.

Deer Park Fire Department Chief Robert Macaluso said that his firefighters were on the scene moments after the 911 call, and it was under control in about an hour and 20 minutes.

Approximately 75 to 100 firefighters from 8 different departments responded to the blaze.

Newsday's Joseph Ostapiuk contributed to this story.