Nine hurt in fire at Bay Shore apartment complex

After fleeing an early morning Bay Shore apartment fire with nothing but the clothes on his back Michael Poindexter said he still felt lucky for himself and his family.

Suffolk police officers rescued him, his wife and daughter from the blaze, which swept through a building at the Mid-Island Apartments on Union Boulevard, authorities said.

Four police officers, two volunteer firefighters and at least three residents were injured in the fire, officials said.

"I didn't think we were going to get out of there," said Poindexter, 62.

One resident was taken to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and later transferred to the burn unit at Stony Brook University Medical Center, police said. The other injuries were not life-threatening, officials said.

The fire began in the second-floor apartment next door to the Poindexters, according to police. Poindexter said his daughter woke him and that when he opened the front door, he couldn't see anything.

"Just black smoke and fire," said Poindexter, who works for the Northport VA Medical Center. "I just thank God we got out safely."

He ran to the window, knocked out the screen and called to police officers who had responded to a 911 call placed at 12:18 a.m. The officers got a ladder and Poindexter, with his wife and daughter, climbed to safety, he said. Two others leaped from windows in nearby apartments, according to police.

The remaining injured were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, police and fire officials said.

Two second-floor apartments were badly damaged by the blaze. Officials said other apartments suffered smoke and water damage.

Arson Squad investigators remained at the scene early Tuesday and the investigation was continuing. The cause of the blaze was not clear.

The Red Cross dispatched emergency services to the location. Some reports said as many as 20 residents were displaced by the fire - but neither police nor fire officials could verify an exact number.

Poindexter said he and his wife were without necessary medications and were staying with family following the blaze. But he had no idea what else they might have lost in the fire.

By Tuesday afternoon, the scene was quiet. Yellow police crime scene tape sealed off entrances to the fire-damaged building.

Part of the upper floor of the two-story building was blackened and collapsed in places.

One resident, Julie Peterson, 33, whose apartment faces the building that burned, said the "whole building was just engulfed in flames."

Another resident, Cheryl Pendzuk, 44, also witnessed the blaze. She said, "It was really scary."