Bill Gilberg saw his neighbors fleeing the house as smoke and fire was visible from the rear window. He told his wife to call the fire department and he ran to see if everyone was out of the house. As Bill ran around to the front of the house he saw his neighbor hanging out a second floor window dropping her cat to safety. He began yelling to her to get out of the house. She replied “I can’t get out”. The fire had begun to travel from the room of origin into the hallway. These conditions cut off the path to the stairs driving the homeowner back into her bedroom. Realizing the severity of this dangerous situation, Bill retrieved a ladder from the side of his house and placed it at the base of the window. He steadied the ladder and calmly directed his neighbor on how to safely exit the window onto the ladder as he steadied it. Bills quick thinking actions and calm demeanor allowed him to quickly and safely assist his neighbor from harms way.

Ex-Captain Paul Sokol arrived on scene and quickly donned his fire gear, which he carries in his car. He entered the burning home and ascended the stairs where he saw a large body of fire burning in the rear bedroom. The fire was advancing out of the room and heading straight for the attic stairs. As an experienced Firefighter, Paul knew that once this fire got into the hallway it would be difficult if not impossible to save the house from total destruction. Despite the fact that he did not have Breathing Apparatus, Paul took decisive action and crawled toward the open bedroom door. He was able to get the door closed and effectively confine the fire to the rear bedroom. Paul then used a garden hose to keep the door cool as Mineola Firefighters arrived on the scene.

First Assistant Chief Robert Connolly pulled on to Marcellus Rd as smoke was enveloping the street. Police Officers on the scene confirmed that all five occupants of the home were now out. Chief Connolly immediately transmitted a Signal 10 – “Working House Fire” and advised responding units that they were responding to a second floor fire. Chief Connolly entered the house and met Ex-Capt Sokol who was continuing to attempt to hold the fire with a garden house. As conditions deteriorated, The Chief and Capt. Sokol went back down the stairs to meet the arriving companies.

Ladder 165 arrived on scene with Capt. Jeff Clark, Lt. Matt Grilo and a crew of firefighters. Captain Clark assigned Lt. Grilo to lead the entry team including Firefighters Matt Sanderleaf and Carl T. Nunziata to the second floor to locate the fire and search for any other victims. The Roof Team including Firefighters Chris Franz and Scott Strauss placed portable ladders and entered the room above the fire to search for victims and check for extension. Engine 161 pulled up and Lt. Joseph Monez directed his crew of Firefighters Andrew Marotta, Mike Marotta, Ryan Traina and Brian Santosus to stretch a hose line to the second floor. Engine 167 also arrived on scene and Lt. Bill Symington coordinated the stretching of a second hose line to back up the initial attack line.

The aggressive interior attack by the engine company prevented the fire from progressing further into the structure. Bystanders were initially fearful as fire pushed from the rear windows and looked to be headed for the attic. The coordinated efforts between the Engine and Truck companies allowed the engine to push deeper into the fire room and they doused these flames as well. With the main body of fire knocked down, Firefighters then opened up the walls and ceiling and checked for further extension of the fire.

The Mineola Fire department was assisted at the scene by Williston Park Ladder 862, Garden City Park FAST Team on Engine154, Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps. and Nassau County Police Officers / Police Ambulance. Two of the occupants were transported to Winthrop Hospital with minor injuries. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene. Additional coverage was provided by Garden City Fire Dept and New Hyde Park Fire Dept. which provided standby units to protect the rest of Mineola during the incident. The Nassau County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.