Site

Donate

2024 Incidents
JAN 111
FEB 85
MAR 94
APR 97
MAY 125
JUNE 127
JULY 72
AUG
SEPT
OCT
NOV
DEC
Total 711    

Past Incidents
2023 1482
2022 1462
2021 1356
2020 1167
2019 1250
2018 1290
2017 1256
2016 1287
2015 1274
2014 1161
2013 1127
2012 1059
2011 1091
2010 1095
2009 964

Web Counters
Website Visitors
Since
April 21, 2009
1,456,289
Visitors Today
Dec 13, 2024
58

Always Remember
Structure fire
Email Print RSS Facebook Twitter RSS

By Ex-Chief Nicholas Luparella/Denise Civiletti Riverhead Local
August 6, 2024

Quick action by Riverhead Police saved the lives of three people inside a burning home on Newton Avenue Monday night.

Police and Riverhead Fire Department responded to a 911 call for a structure fire at 320 Newton Avenue at around 6:40 p.m., Riverhead Fire Department First Assistant Chief Pete Kurzyna said Monday night.

Riverhead Police officers were on scene when Kurzyna and Third Assistant Chief Ray Jacobs arrived within minutes of the alarm to find the single-story ranch style home with a “heavy fire load in the back,” Kurzyna said.

The officers pulled three adult occupants out of the home to safety through windows, Kurzyna said.

“They did a phenomenal job,” the fire chief said of Riverhead Police officers Matthew Suprina, John Dahlem and William Leonardi and Sgt. Guiseppe Rosini.

The officers arrived to find the house engulfed in flames and heavy smoke, Riverhead Police said in a press release Monday night. The officers located one of the occupants near the front door, who reported that two other residents, an adult man and woman, were entrapped inside the house. Officers tried to enter the house but due to heavy smoke and fire, retreated, the press release said. The female occupant was able to get to a front bedroom window, where officers were able to pull her out of the house to safety. Officers then went to the rear of the house and located a man in a rear bedroom window and were able to pull him through the window and out of the house, police said.

None of the occupants was seriously injured. Two were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of what Kurzyna said he understood to be minor injuries. One of the police officers had a minor burn injury and was treated at the scene by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps. A firefighter battling the blaze suffered a second-degree burn that required transport to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment at its burn center. The firefighter was treated and released, Kurzyna said.

The house was gutted by the fast-moving fire, which Riverhead Fire Marshal Andrew Smith said Tuesday morning was a kitchen fire that appears to have been caused by “unattended cooking.” Smith said the fire marshal’s office would wrap up its investigation Tuesday.

Firefighters were able to get under control within 15 minutes, Kurzyna said.

Riverhead Chief of Police Edward Frost expressed thanks for the officers’ “excellent work” at the scene. “I wouldn’t expect anything else,” Frost said.

“I’m glad everyone made it out of the house safe, including the officers,” he said.

“Everyone worked well together,” Kurzyna said.

The Riverhead Fire Department responded to the call with about 50 firefighters, four engines, a ladder truck and a fire police patrol support vehicle, Kurzyna said.

Jamesport and Eastport fire departments responded to the scene on a mutual aid call from Riverhead. Flanders Fire Department stood by at Riverhead’s headquarters and handled one additional alarm while Riverhead was at the working fire, Kurzyna said.

Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance, Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance and Manorville Community Ambulance were at the scene to treat and transport victims to hospitals as needed.


Add a Comment Add a Comment 0 Comment(s)


Website Designed and Hosted By: Content Proudly Maintained By: Contact Info:
Firehouse Solutions
www.FirehouseSolutions.com

Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department
540 Roanoke Avenue
Riverhead, New York 11901


Emergency Dial 911
For Emergency: 631-727-2750
Station: 631-727-2751
E-mail: info@riverheadfire.org
Copyright © 2024 Firehouse Solutions (A Service of Technology Reflections, Inc.)