Sunday Night Fire Damages Northport Home

The and police departments responded to reports of flames coming from the garage of a single-family home in "the Pit"  just after 8 p.m. Sunday.

According to the official department report, at 8:14 p.m. Sunday, the Northport Fire Department received report of a fire "in the area of Steers Avenue and Cairo Avenue” 
Officer J.T.Herfurth arrived first on scene and confirmed a working structure fire located at 39 Cairo Ave.

Northport Fire Chief John McKenna immediately requested mutual-aid response from for Rapid Intervention Team - whose purpose is to stand-by on scene to assist any injured or trapped firefighter.  One engine was requested from Centerport Fire Department to stand-by at Northport Fire Headquarters on Main Street. 

Upon arrival, firefighting personnel, under direction of Chief McKenna and Assistant Chief Chris Hughes, encountered a two-story single family dwelling with attached two-car garage.  

The garage was fully involved with fire, and extension had begun to the home's adjacent wall. Utilizing one engine and several support vehicles, the fire was knocked down.

However due to a delay in the utility agent's ability to disconnect gas and electric service Chief McKenna held off declaring the scene "under control" until the gas and electric hazards were secured.  LIPA and National Grid were posed a difficult task of trying to locate curbside gas and electric shut-offs that were hidden by deep snow berms.  Gas and electric were secured by 9:01 p.m. and the scene was declared under control.

The fire department personnel returned to headquarters and readied all vehicles and equipment for service.The alarm was cleared at 9:46 p.m.

The house was empty during the fire, but neighbors were able to locate the homeowner, William Scott Mateyunas, and he returned home shortly thereafter.  

One firefighter at the scene reported shortness of breath.  He was treated and released from Huntington Hospital. 

The Suffolk County Police Arson Squad is investigating the cause. Chief McKenna commended the actions of Northport firefighters. Through their efforts, severe fire damage was limited to the garage. The home, however, did sustain residual smoke and water damage.

A portion of the home, located just across from the entrance to Harbour Point Drive, was boarded up Monday morning.