Fire destroys Lakeland home, 3 hospitalized

 An early-morning house fire in Lakeland sent three residents of the home to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation Thursday, Suffolk County fire officials said.

Firefighters from five departments battled the blaze for almost two hours before being able to bring it under control at 5:38 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by arson investigators and fire marshals, officials said.

The fire at the home on Ontario Street near Pamlico Avenue was reported at 3:43 a.m. Preliminary indications, officials said, is that the fire began in the basement of the home -- and burned through to the roof.

The three residents all were taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center by Central Islip Ambulance. They were not identified by officials and their conditions were unknown early Thursday.

Firefighters from Lakeland, Holbrook, Central Islip, Hauppauge and Ronkonkoma fought the blaze.