The British Petroleum gas station located at 1169 Broadway in Hewlett was destroyed by a fire early Tuesday evening.
According to fire department officials at the scene, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a vehicle in the gas station's garage at approximately 5:30 p.m. However, the official cause of the blaze is currently under investigation.
Fire officials confirmed that the gas station itself is a total loss. No injuries were reported.
Kelly Cavanagh had been walking several blocks away and had noticed the smoke billowing into the air.
"All I knew is that the whole sky was filled with thick, black smoke everywhere," she said. "I started following it and the smell got worse and worse. I couldn't really see what happened until it was all over, as the police had the area blocked off."
The fire was responded to by the combined efforts of the Hewlett, Inwood, Woodmere and Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Departments.
This is a breaking news story. Patch will update the story as more information becomes available.
Taken by Ex-Captain Howie Goldmark - WFD Truck 1 http://goo.gl/LTS2X
Did either of you call the fire department? Just because there is a fire around the corner, how do they know? The great volunteers of our fire departments don't live in their fire houses. Also last time you were driving on Broadway and you saw a volunteer TRYING to get passed you with their blue light on and hand on their horn, DID YOU MOVE over? Probably NOT. Don't worry, they were only trying to get to the fire house to put their life on the line for you. No reason you should move over, right?? ( Just be "sick" about how long it's taking the fd to get there instead. ) I know both Woodmere, Hewlett and all of the other departments at this call would love to give you an application for membership. Just ring one of our front door bells and ask for one. See you at the next fire....
Josephine Gobetz
Look at the photos at the above link. There are firefighters from various departments there as things get going, but you can see the truck 302 from Hewlett drive past the building with no other trucks in sight and stop at the fire hydrant just past the corner. Almost all the people bringing the first hose from the truck to the fire have HBFD on their coats. In addition, I was on the corner of Trinity and Broadway when the first truck coming from Woodmere stopped, left a guy off at the hydrant on the corner and then drove down to the fire without connecting to the hydrant. "Every picture tells a story..." (Ron Wood/ Rod Stewart)
Jaime Sumersille Regional Editor, Nassau County
p.s. Howie + Steve, couldn't have said it better. I was passing along the curb on opposite side of street in front of a burning building on Merrick Rd one time. Windows behind me were blowing out from heat as I passed. She doesn't know how lucky she was.