Woman killed in Bay Shore fire, Long Island investigators say
BAY SHORE, N.Y. -- A woman died Thursday when a fire tore through multiple homes overnight in Bay Shore, New York.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, but two men survived, including one who was taken to the hospital and another who was unharmed, officials on Long Island said.
Strong wind spread flames to neighboring homes
A 911 caller first reported a fire at the home on North Windsor Avenue in the Suffolk County hamlet at around 1:30 a.m. Within minutes, the flames had spread to two adjoining houses due to fierce winds.
"I was sleeping when the police knocked on the door. They got my wife, my son and myself out of the house," said Tom Doerr. "The flames were completely engulfing the house over here. With the winds as high as they were, we were really worried."
Next door, Macie Gabovich and her family were alerted by the screams of neighbors to evacuate.
"The firemen, when they saw the wind blowing towards my house, they lined up on the driveway," Gabovich said.
"We had a total of 14 fire departments responding to this alarm. It was wind-driven," Bay Shore Fire Chief John Ippolito Jr. said.
"The wind was so fierce and the ambers were showering into all of the backyards," said Theresa Nicolich, whose home was spared.
"Looked like the California fires at one point"
The house in the middle collapsed and the others were significantly damaged. A family with five children recently moved out of one of them.
"It looked like, actually, like the California fires at one point. I don't even know what to say. I'm shellshocked," neighbor Liz Jones said.
The name of the woman who was killed was not immediately released. Investigators said her identity was pending confirmation from the Suffolk County medical examiner.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but no criminality is suspected.
