PWFD Saves Marino Avenue Homeowner From Fire

The Port Washington Fire Department responded to a house fire on Marino Avenue off Port Washington Boulevard early Monday afternoon.

Witnesses and Port Washington fire officials said the homeowner, at 10 Marino Ave., was still inside when the first fire truck arrived at the scene just after 3 p.m. However, fire department personnel were able to enter and exit through the front door of the house and rescue the victim without any trouble. Fire officials said no one else was inside the home at the time of the fire.

"They got him right out and took him to the hospital," said Stephanie Capone, a neighbor on Marino Avenue. "Then they yanked all the windows and put a hole in the roof to get all the smoke out."

According to Port Washington Fire Department Chief Thomas McDonough, the cause of the fire was an electrical problem in the basement of the house as determined by the Nassau County Fire Marshal.

In addition to the homeowner, identified as Robert Smithdas, two firefighters and two police officers were also transported to local hospitals by EMS personnel to be treated for injuries. Three of the victims were taken to the St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn while the other two were taken to the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow.

"All the injuries are non-life threatening," McDonough said. "They were treated both on the scene and in transport to the hospital."

Other firefighters and officers were also treated at the scene for minor injuries and were given water to re-hydrate. Other agencies such as Roslyn Rescue Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 and the Williston Park Fire Department also responded to the scene. By the time all personnel cleared the scene, it was 5:27 p.m.

"The police department and fire department personnel did an outstanding job at securing the scene," McDonough said. "It was most helpful in how the other agencies stepped in and assisted us as well."