01/26/2008: Working Fire In North Babylon

NORTH BABYLON, NY – Around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2008 the North Babylon Fire Department responded to a fire at 383 Chelsea Avenue. While en route North Babylon chief’s were advised that Babylon Central Fire Alarm was taking numerous calls on a house fire and the job sounded like work. Units arriving on scene alerted BCFA that they had a working house fire and the 13/35 was toned out right away.

As first responding units arrived on scene they were met with heavy fire pushing out of the front and back of the house. Within minutes the fire extended into the 2nd floor of the private dwelling and began pushing out the windows. Mutual aid from West Babylon was requested for one F.A.S.T. assignment and one engine to the scene.

Engine 1-8-4 setup in front of the fire building and picked up a hydrant in front of 353 Chelsea Avenue and stretched 3 lines. They pumped water to Ladder Truck 1-8-6 which was also set up in front of the fire building. Engine 1-8-8 picked up a hydrant 1 block up at the corner of Cheltenham Road and Claremont Avenue and stretched 3 lines to the rear of the house. Engine 1-8-3 stood by at the corner of Cheltenham Road and Claremont Avenue. 1-8-5 was setup near the front of the fire building and provided lighting for the front and rear of the house. Engine 1-8-2 was standing by at the hydrant in front of 353 Chelsea Avenue.

West Babylon’s F.A.S.T. assignment came in on Heavy Rescue Truck 1-9-15 while a 2nd company from West Babylon responded in on Engine 1-9-6. Along with the firefighting apparatus on scene included numerous ambulances. North Babylon was on scene with Ambulances 1-8-7 and 1-8-14 while Wyandanch-Wheatley Heights was on scene with Ambulance 1-20-20

North Babylon and West Babylon worked for over and hour to bring this fire under control. With heavy fire pushing out of the entire structure and a partial collapse of the 2nd floor this proved to be a difficult fire to bring under control. With half a dozen lines stretched both departments were able to bring this massive blaze under control and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes. Thankfully there were no serious injuries during the fire. It is currently unknown what the cause of the fire is.