Team Effort To Save Disabled Man From Burning North Babylon Home

NORTH BABYLON, NY -A Suffolk County Police officer, a crossing guard and two Good Samaritans worked together to rescue a disabled North Babylon man from his burning home on Wednesday afternoon.

Officer Francis McKay was at a nearby scene when he heard the 911 call of a house fire on Woods Road, across from the Woods Road Elementary School at 3:10 p.m.

When McKay arrived to the scene, Suffolk County crossing guard Sharon Doogan flagged him down and told him there was a man in a wheelchair on the second floor of the home, where the smoke and flames were coming from.

McKay entered the home and saw 71-year-old Michael Goldstein at the top of the stairs unable to get down by himself.

Image via North Babylon Fire Company

Two good Samaritans were attempting to help him down when McKay grabbed Goldstein and brought him down the stairs.

McKay then put him in a wheelchair and escorted him out the home. Goldstein and the two good Samaritans were not injured.

Goldstein’s wife, 71-year-old Lily Goldstein, was able to escape fire without assistance and did not need medical attention. Doogan, 53, of Deer Park, who entered the home prior, was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

The North Babylon Fire Department then responded to the scene and worked to put out the fire. The blaze was under control within 30 minutes.

No injuries were reported. The cause of fire is still under investigation.

The school was released 20 minutes late to allow apparatus to arrive on scene. The West Islip Fire Department also responded to assist.