Firefighters hurt in Main Street blaze, Kings Park chief says

Two firefighters were injured in an early Saturday fire on Main Street in Kings Park that also caused severe damage to two businesses, an official said.

Kings Park Fire Chief John Gallo said two firefighters from his department were injured and both were treated at the scene.

Gallo said one of the firefighters was hit in the head with falling debris from the blaze and the other suffered smoke inhalation.

The chief said the fire started shortly after 4:15 a.m. in a health and wellness center located in a one-story brick building and spread to an attached podiatrist’s office.

“They’re two buildings together — they’re attached — and both had severe fire damage,” Gallo said.

Gallo said the blaze was raging when firefighters arrived.

“When I got to the scene, there was fire coming out of two windows at the front of the store [the health and wellness center],” and there was heavy smoke, Gallo said.

A Suffolk County police spokeswoman said that Main Street between Pulaski Road and Indian Head Road was closed for more than an hour as firefighters battled the blaze.

Gallo said the “extreme cold temperatures” made fighting the fire particularly challenging, but the blaze was brought under control in about an hour and a half with the assistance of departments from Smithtown, Commack, East Northport and Northport.

The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by the Suffolk police Arson Squad and the county fire marshal’s office.