United States Postal Service truck bursts into flames in West Bay Shore

A U.S. Postal Service delivery truck burst into flames Wednesday morning in West Bay Shore, the fire destroying the vehicle and much of the mail it was carrying, Suffolk County fire officials said.

Bay Shore Fire Department Chief of Department Kevin Butler said about 20 firefighters and two chief officers responded to the scene on Mystic Oaks Drive, just north of Orinocco Drive, with three engines to find the postal truck "fully engulfed." The fire had been reported in a 911 call to Suffolk fire officials at about 10:45 a.m.

Butler said the postal carrier was not injured in the blaze.

"The carrier said she was having mechanical issues and attempted to return to headquarters, but said the truck started smoking," Butler said.

He said that though the fire was quickly extinguished, "they definitely lost mail," adding: "The truck was completely demolished."

The carrier's assigned post office was not immediately clear. Butler said a postal inspector responded to the scene and said postal officials were attempting to determine what mail could be saved.

"They ended up sorting through the mail," Butler said. "Whatever has a visible address, they said they'll still deliver."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”