Firefighter seriously injured after falling through roof in Roslyn Heights house fire
The incident happened around 9 a.m. at a home on Pinetree Lane.
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A Nassau County firefighter is recovering from serious burn injuries after falling through the roof of a burning home in Roslyn Heights on Wednesday morning. Officials say another firefighter — who has only been with the Carle Place Fire Department for about a year — is being hailed as a hero for pulling his injured colleague to safety.
The incident happened around 9 a.m. at a home on Pinetree Lane. According to Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro, the two firefighters were working on the roof when the structure suddenly gave way.
“The roof was weakened,” Uttaro said. “He was checking for weak spots when he unfortunately fell through the roof up to about his waist.”
The firefighter who fell was immediately rescued by his partner, who managed to drag him away from the flames. The injured firefighter was rushed to Weill Cornell Burn Center in Manhattan, where officials say he is in stable condition. The firefighter who performed the rescue was treated for injuries at the scene.
Fire officials say the fire started on the home’s deck before spreading inside, causing extensive damage. All three residents of the home escaped safely and were not injured.
Uttaro praised the quick actions of the firefighter who made the rescue.
“The firefighter who was with him made a great grab, dragged him to safety, and he was pivotal in making sure this firefighter wasn’t more seriously burned,” Uttaro said.
Authorities determined the fire was caused by careless smoking. Investigators also noted that there were no working smoke detectors in the home, as required by law.
