4 injured, 28 displaced in West Babylon fire; buried hydrant delays response
The West Babylon chief believes it may have started in the building’s attic. The Town of Babylon fire marshal is investigating.
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News 12 is learning this week's blizzard made it difficult for firefighters to respond to an apartment building fire in West Babylon.
Video showed flames going through the roof and out of the windows of the Fairfield Suburbia Gardens complex on Great East Neck Road.
Fire officials say they responded around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and couldn't find the fire hydrant.
They say the first hydrant was completely buried in snow.
Having to find another hydrant delayed their firefighting efforts.
“The hydrant was completely blocked. We ended up committing to one that was closer. However, it just took a little longer to get set up. You start digging then you say give it up find a different water source," said William Allen, West Babylon Fire Chief of Department.
As the firefighters raced to find a hydrant, the chief tells News 12 they initially fought the flames with a tanker that had a limited water supply.
As the battled they fire, residents were evacuated from the building.
Another challenge fighting this fire, according to the West Babylon chief, is that the back parking lot is such a narrow area that they couldn't fit firetrucks there to fight the fire.
"The rear parking lot, we've been complaining for years that we can't get a fire apparatus back there," he said.
The West Babylon fire chief is urging the public to clear the firefighter hydrants near their home or work.
The fire code in New York State requires a 3-foot clear space around the hydrant.
News 12 is told three residents and a firefighter are hurt but are recovering.
Twenty-eight people are displaced.
There is no official word yet on what started the fire. The West Babylon chief believes it may have started in the building’s attic.
