After a fire tore through an apartment building in Levittown, a 68-year old female was hospitalized and twenty residents were left homeless.
The East Meadow Fire Department received a call at 11:36 pm that the Newbridge Garden Apartments on Newbridge Road had gone up in flames. Within two minutes, all four East Meadow fire chiefs were on the road and, three minutes later, all fire companies had followed suit. Third Assistant Chief James Walsh arrived at 11:39 p.m., reporting a smoke condition. Taking no chances with the large occupancy of the complex, Chief Joseph Lennon immediately called for back-up.
Assistant Chief Phillip Fertitta and Eric Becker then arrived on the scene, geared up, and assumed fire ground command roles inside the building. Firefighters entered through the doors and windows to evacuate all residents.