Crime & Safety

Woodmere Assistant Chief Rescues Man from Debris-Filled Apartment

Most other tenants were able to evacuate from Central Avenue building.

A Woodmere Fire Department assistant chief made his way through two to three feet of debris Saturday to rescue an elderly man from his burning apartment, according to the chief of the department.

Second Assistant Chief Ben Nelson got the 83-year-old man out of his apartment at 1008 Central Ave. after about 9 p.m. Saturday. The man, who suffered slight burns and smoke inhalation, was transported to South Nassau Community Hospital, said Chief Leonard Cherson.

The call came into the fire department from a tenant of the building who saw smoke. Almost all of the other tenants were able to evacuate the building. Another elderly man was helped out of the building, but refused medical attention.

Find out what's happening in Five Townswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The blaze, which was isolated to the one apartment, was knocked out relatively quickly, Cherson said.

The fire is suspected to be electrical in nature, according to Cherson. The Nassau County Fire Marshal and Arson/Bomb Squad were on the scene to investigate.

Find out what's happening in Five Townswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About 50 firefighters with 10 pieces of apparatus put out the blaze. The Woodmere firefighters were assisted by volunteers from the Hewlett, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Inwood and Meadowmere Park fire departments.

Tenants who evacuated stayed in the nearby Woodmere Fire Department before returning to their homes.

In an email to Patch, a person who wished to remain anonymous wrote:

"I would like to thank the Woodmere Fire Department and the other fire departments who rescued us from the fire at 1008 Central Ave., especially the young Woodmere Fire Department chief who went inside the apartment without any fire gear, kicked in the door and brought out one of the men who lived inside where the fire was. Their actions were very brave."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.