On Thursday, June 12th, 2008 at approximately 1035 hours, M-LFD Companies 1 and 2 were toned out to 78 Mason Drive in Zone 1.  Already on the scene of a Chiefs Investigation, Deputy Chief Dillon (8701) was informed by GNVFC Op51 that they were receiving calls for “smoke coming from the roof” at the given address.  DC8701 gave the dispatcher the final disposition of the Chiefs Investigation and began responding to the east end of the fire district.  At the same time, Engine 8758 was returning to quarters from another alarm and was redirected into Zone 1 by DC8701.

After a little bit of confusion with the address given by the callers, units followed the smoke and found the house in question.  Once on scene, a Signal 10 was transmitted by Deputy Chief Dugger (8703) for a working fire in the attic of a house under construction.  The correct address was 395 Nassau Avenue off of Mason Drive.

The transmission of the Signal 10 added M-LFD Company #3 and the Ambulance Unit to original alarm, and the Port Washington F.D. was notified for a F.A.S.T. to the scene and responded with Tower Ladder 8517.  M-LFD Company #4 had a full crew in quarters when the Signal 10 was transmitted, and was instructed to respond with Tower Ladder 8744 by DC8701.

Upon their arrival, the crew of Engine 8758 quickly stretched a 1” ¾ hose line to the attic, but due to a heavy smoke condition had a difficult time finding the seat of the fire in the large attic.  After a brief search, the main body of fire was located and the crew began knocking down the fire.  While the members of E8758 were dealing with intense heat in the attic, truck crews were making their ways to the roof of the house to ventilate its slate roof.  The crew from Tower Ladder 8744 provided vertical ventilation in the rear of the roof, while crews from Quint 8728 and Tower Ladder 8724 ventilated the front.  A total of three 1” ¾ hose lines were stretched, but only two were operated.

The fire was placed under control at 1120 hours by Chief of Department O’Malley (8702).  The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office was notified for an immediate investigation.  All units were released from the scene within two hours.