Families forced to escape through 2nd-floor windows; 17 displaced and 3 injured in early morning Glen Cove apartment fire
No one suffered any serious injuries despite the fire forcing a mass evacuation of the apartment building.
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According to Red Cross, 17 people, from five families, were displaced following a Glen Cove apartment fire early Thursday that forced a massive rescue effort to get the sleeping tenants out safely.
Manuel Rivas and his family were in one of the second-floor units when the fire alarm went off around 3:30 a.m. at 68 Glen Cove Ave.
"We tried to get out, but there was already a lot of smoke and the only way to get out was through the window," Rivas said.
Fire crews on the other side rushed the ladders and pulled the family of five out to safety.
"We were really scared to die over there because when we tried to get out, we could not," Rivas added.
Police found three more people trapped on the second floor in the back of the apartment building, but first responders had to go inside the burning building to pull them out to safety.
“Thankfully, the quick actions by the Glen Cove Police and Fire Department prevented anyone from being seriously injured as a result of this quick moving fire," Glen Cove Police Det. Lt. John Nagle said in a statement.
Four more people were rescued from the first floor and three got out on their own, according to Glen Cove Fire Department First Assistant Chief Justin Valeo.
“The initial thing is you want to get these people out of the building as quickly as possible, but at the same time, it is also important to put the fire out, which will make things a whole lot better for anybody that is in the building," Valeo said.
One resident and two Glen Cove police officers were injured from smoke inhalation and taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Glen Cove Fire Department was assisted by the Glenwood, Locust Valley, Bayville, Sea Cliff, Jericho, Port Washington, Oyster Bay, Syosset and Roslyn fire departments. Roughly 100 firefighters responded in total.
One woman returned to her first-floor apartment hours after the fire was put out and recalled hearing firefighters banging on her door to evacuate as they rushed a hose up to the floor above hers.
"It's just scary," the tenant said. "You think you know what to do when it happens, but especially here in an apartment building, you have no idea."
The Nassau County Fire Marshal believes the fire was started accidentally and has not been ruled suspicious at this time.
Investigators said there were renovations in an apartment in the building yesterday and workers left their trash and tools in the apartment.
Officials believe either rags, staining materials or construction debris spontaneously combusted, sparking the fire.
Red Cross officials said they are providing emergency assistance including financial help to those impacted. The Distaster Team is providing care items including comfort kits as well.
“It’s just a terrible thing," Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck said as she was speaking with affected residents at the scene. "We’re so thankful that everybody is safe.
The building sustained serious structural damage and is the Glen Cove City Building Department is evaluating, according to fire officials.
