A fast-moving fire tore through the Nassau County
Police Department's 2nd Precinct building on Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury
Saturday night.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the
damage is so extensive that the building is not salvageable.
Flames and smoke shot out of the windows and
doors after 10 p.m., which dispatched the Syosset Fire Department and six other
departments. They said the fire took about a half-hour to put out.
Six police officers were inside the building when
the fire broke out. They were treated for smoke inhalation.
Nassau Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said the fire
started in the kitchen area. The cause is still under investigation.
“The cause of the fire right now, it’s not
suspicious, but it remains undetermined,” Uttaro said. “Still doing some
interview, still talking to police officers in the building at the time.”
Nassau police said the building is a loss, but
officers will continue to protect the safety of residents as they did before
the fire.
“At this time, we have made a preliminary
assessment of the damage and we’ve determined that the building is not
salvageable,” Blakeman said. “We will be expediting the construction of a new
precinct building.”
Second Precinct officers will be working out of
the 8th Precinct building in Bethpage. The Second Precinct commander will have
a temporary office in a command bus in the parking lot of the precinct in
Woodbury.
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the
response will be “exactly the same.” He added that the Second Precinct’s
records, evidence and weapons were saved from the fire.
Residents served by the 2nd Precinct who need to
file a report are advised to go to the 8th Precinct at 299 Hicksville Road in
Bethpage.