Townline Road Fire Injures 4

Four people were injured – three of them burned – after a fire erupted at a Townline Road home early Wednesday, officials confirmed. 

East Northport Chief Michael Tarantino said it took 45 minutes in frigid conditions to subdue the blaze, which broke out at approximately 5:15 a.m. on the second floor of the split-level high ranch.

“It was a large amount of fire,” Tarantino said. “It was significant. We took a wear and tear on our bodies. It went into the attic and that poses challenges in getting to it.” 

The fire caused extensive damage to the East Northport home, with flames visibly shooting out the front windows when Tarantino arrived on scene.

One man was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center with second degree burns on his back, Tarantino said. A second victim had burns to the face and mouth while a third person suffered an ankle injury while evacuating, the chief said. 

A volunteer firefighter from East Northport suffered burns on his back and neck, but was treated and sent home, according to Tarantino. 

“Our guy is fine,” Tarantino said. 

A man who claimed to be the owner declined to comment when a Patch reporter showed up at the burned out home at noon Wednesday. A contractor on hand was preparing to board up a gaping hole the fire burned through the left half of the second floor. 

Tarantino said up to eight people were in the house at the time of the fire. Seven had evacuated by the time the East Northport Fire Department arrived. The eighth was asleep on the first floor and extricated without incident by firefighters, Tarantino said.

“The weather made it a little more difficult,” said Tarantino, who added that the cause of the fire is still under investigation. “When you’re running water at near zero temperatures – it was real uncomfortable for the firefighters.” 

Responders included units from Centerport, Commack, East Northport, Greenlawn, Kings Park and Northport fire departments as well as the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps.