Two Firefighters Hurt Battling House Fire In Suffolk County
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Two firefighters were hurt, and a family was searching for answers, after a fire tore through a home in Suffolk County early Sunday.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, angry red flames poured out of the second floor of 92 Bushwick Ave. in Central Islip around 2:15 a.m.
Firefighters tried to extinguish the flames as they consumed the crumbling home, peeling away garage doors like paper as smoke consumed all that was not already burnt away.
Authorities said two firefighters suffered burns, and one had to be airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook with non-life-threatening injuries. Both are expected to recover.
The residents were home when the fire broke out, but all managed to get to safety. One woman was transported to Northwell Health Southside Hospital in Bay Shore with chest pains, but was later released.
But family members were all devastated at the tragic loss.
"First, I saw a just a lot of smoke coming out, and then I just saw pieces of fire falling in the floor," said fire victim Adonai Ramirez.
Ramirez said she woke up to the chirp of smoke detectors and quickly helped her family of six escape. She believes the fire started in the garage.
"The fire just spread everywhere – everywhere. It was really fast," Ramirez said. "We couldn't take anything out. Everything was gone."
On Sunday morning, the family dried out some important documents they were able to salvage.
The woman who was taken to the hospital was Ramirez's grandmother, who just arrived for a visit two days ago.
"They had to take her in because she has asthma," Ramirez said. "Her chest was feeling tight, but she's good now."
The house was boarded up. What were once possessions were reduced to ashes and charcoal, but the family was thankful to be safe and together.
"I don't know, we just feel like our head is spinning," Ramirez said. "We don't know what to do, what to say -- we just don't know."
The family said they bought the house a year ago. They were making it a home to stay for many years to come.
They were set to spend Sunday night in a hotel figuring out what to do next.
The fire remained under investigation Sunday night, but authorities say the cause does not appear criminal in nature at this time.
The family believes the fire started in an electricity box in their garage.
