Lawrence Home Fire Put Out by Multiple Departments

Photos from the scene coming soon.

A fire likely caused by a hot tub-like device caused substantial damage to a Lawrence home early this morning, according to the chief of the .

“It appeared to start in the sunroom in a hot tub-type appliance,” said Chief Joseph Sperber, who was the first one on the scene. “Whatever happened, when [the homeowner] said the explosion occurred, the fire was well advanced when we got there. It was already extending to the second floor.”

The heavy fire in the Wedgewood Lane home was called in at 12:41 a.m. by the homeowner, according to Sperber. The occupants were able to get out safely before responders arrived at the scene.

The fire was placed under control by about 75 firefighters from the Lawrence-Cedarhurst, , and departments working with 12 pieces of apparatus within 30 minutes of the call, Sperber said. Valley Stream and Long Beach firefighters were also on the scene. Meadowmere Park members were on call in the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department. Overhaul and salvage of the home took another hour and a half.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office was called in to do an investigation and the fire was deemed not suspicious.

LIPA and National Grid had to shut off services to the home.

“The house was saved, but there was substantial damage. The occupants weren’t able to stay in the house,” Sperber said. “They had family and relatives that were on scene that live near there.”

Sperber said that good training helped prepare members of his department respond to the scene, so they don’t need to learn on the job.

“No injuries to the occupants and no injuries to the firefighters,” he said. “As a fire chief, that’s the most reassuring thing. The fire went out in a timely fashion and property was saved.”