One dead in West Islip house fire, Suffolk police and fire officials say
A female resident was found dead after a midmorning fire in a single-story home in West Islip Friday, Suffolk County police and fire officials said.
Police on Saturday identified the woman as Suzanne Minervini, 61.
Police said the fire on Udall Road was reported in a 911 call at 10:25 a.m.
West Islip 2nd Assistant Chief Rob Celeste said firefighters arrived at the home, located near Webster Avenue, to find a male resident in the front driveway and a portion of the house already engulfed. He said firefighters launched "an aggressive search" but "unfortunately, the fire situation was severe."
Firefighters responded to a fatal house fire on Udall Road in West Islip on Friday morning. Credit: Paul Mazza
One West Islip firefighter suffered minor burns attempting to access the bedroom area where Minervini was later found but was driven back by the flames.
That firefighter was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment, Celeste said, and later released.
Between 50 and 60 firefighters and EMS ambulance crews from West Islip, West Babylon, North Babylon, Babylon and Bay Shore all responded to the scene.
"It's a rough one," Celeste said of the outcome.
The cause of the fire remained unknown and is under investigation by Suffolk Homicide Squad and Arson Section detectives.
A preliminary investigation determined the fire to be non-criminal in nature, police said Saturday.
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.”
