Sandy hero's Staten Island house destroyed by fire

NEW YORK A New York City man who used a small boat to rescue his neighbors during Superstorm Sandy has lost his house to a fire.

Peter Vadola's home was spared when Sandy devastated the Staten Island shoreline last October. He had moved into it just three days earlier.

But on July 20, while running out for pizza with his wife and two young sons, the house in Staten Island's Midland Beach was destroyed by fire.

His wife, Melissa, tells the State Island Advance she may have accidentally turned on the stove with her hip before they left the house.

Firefighters were able to rescue the family's dog and cat.

The couple's wedding rings were found in the rubble.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.