Firefighters, police in Central Islip rescue 2 unconscious women from house fire

Firefighters and police officers pushed their way through thick smoke inside a burning Central Islip home Thursday to pull two unconscious women to safety, authorities said.

The women, ages 78 and 48, were first transported to South Shore University Hospital and then transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious, but non life-threatening injuries, authorities said. Updates on the two women's conditions were not immediately available late Thursday.

They were both found in a first-floor bedroom of the home on Dietz Street, "unconscious from smoke inhalation," said Central Islip Fire Department Chief Vinny Plotino.

Suffolk County police and firefighters responded to a 911 call at the home about 11:30 a.m. to rescue two women "unable to escape the lower level of the home on their own," police said in a news release. 

Upon arrival, firefighters were unable to enter the home through the front door, as "there was too much heat and smoke," Plotino said. Instead, he added, they got in through a side door, at which point Central Islip fire Capt. Dennis Solares located the women in the bedroom.

"I think the aggressiveness of the fire, the way it escalated so fast, it actually trapped them in there," Plotino said. "They were unaware until it was fully smoked out and they were unable to find their way out."

Solares dragged both women most of the distance toward the side door before Central Islip firefighter Steve Dellamar and a half dozen Suffolk police officers entered to complete the rescue, Plotino said.

Both firefighters and the six officers with Suffolk's Third Precinct in Bay Shore — Alisa Cipolla, Lillian Arlene Collins, Jonathan Morgan, Alec Parrotta, Brett Platt and Sergio Rivera — were treated at hospitals for smoke inhalation, police said.

"They went over and beyond." Plotino said of the first responders. "Their efforts were huge, and hopefully the outcome is OK."

The fire took about 45 minutes to extinguish, Plotino said. Most of the fire damage was contained to the basement, where it began. The blaze "partially" damaged the first floor, the chief added.

Suffolk County arson detectives are investigating and have not determined a cause of the fire.