Fire official: Six occupants escape Islandia house fire

All six occupants escaped after a basement fire charred an Islandia house early Tuesday, a fire official said.

Rob McGee, first assistant chief with the Central Islip Fire Department, said the family's dog died in the house fire on Pine Cone Lane, which was reported at about 2 a.m.

Two of the six occupants were taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation, he said; no firefighters were reported injured.

McGee said it took his department about 10 minutes to extinguish the fire.

"Upon arrival, it was definitely a heavy fire," he said. "It was going pretty good."

McGee said it appears the fire started in the basement of the two-story home. Fire damage was contained to the basement, he said, and the rest of the house had significant smoke damage.

Suffolk County police's Arson Squad is investigating, he said.

Also responding to the fire were the Hauppauge and Islip Terrace departments, McGee said.