Cause of 4-alarm fire undetermined More than 100 firefighters respond to blaze in F.P. that damaged multiple businesses

BY BRANDON DUFFY

More than 100 frefghters from 18 diferent fre departments in Nassau County rushed to Floral Park Monday morning to battle a four-alarm fre on Jericho Turnpike that damaged multiple businesses.

A two-story building at 266 Jericho caught fre around 10:30 a.m. and was later under control by frst responders around 2:30 p.m., said Nassau County Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro.

“We still have people on the scene,” Uttaro told Blank Slate Media Tuesday afternoon. “Once the conditions inside improve, we can then go in and make a determination on the cause of the fre.”

A 911 call reporting smoke in the building was made at 10:23 a.m., Uttaro said. Floral Park Fire Department was frst on the scene and made a call to mutual aid for assistance on the working fre, Uttaro said.

Floral Park Chief James Dodson was in command of the scene and ordered frefghters to evacuate with their hose lines after conditions worsened in the basement and to attack the fre from only the outside. Buildings on either side of 266 Jericho only sufered moderate smoke damage.

“Basement fres are some of the most dangerous fres that frefghters face,” Uttaro said.

First responders responded to the scene Monday night for an overnight standby to check for hot spots, which includes evaluating high-risk areas for rapid fre spread. Excavators worked on removing any debris that was blocking access, Uttaro said.

Pictures and videos shared on social media showed black smoke coming from the address, where an acupuncturist and shoe repair shop are located, as frst responders established ladders and hose lines to attack the fames.

Several businesses were afected by the fre, including two on the frst foor and more on both the second foor and in the basement. There were no residences in the building and all occupants at the time of the fre safely selfevacuated, Uttaro said.

No civilians were injured in the fre. Two frefghters were transported to local hospitals for minor injuries before being released, Uttaro said. Three frefghters were evaluated at the scene but refused further medical attention, Uttaro said.

A Floral Park ladder truck struck a pillar near the Long Island Rail Road overpass on Tulip Avenue during the response to the call, injuring two frefghters.

The Floral Park Building Department will determine if the building needs to be torn down.

“The Fire Department did a great job of holding the fre to the building of origin,” Uttaro said.