5 Rescued From Huntington Station Salon-Apartment Blaze

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — Five people were rescued from a commercial-residential building blaze early Tuesday by Suffolk police officers, the department said.

Four residents of the rear apartment, a 6-year-old child, a 15-year-old, and their parents were trapped on the roof. A woman living in the front apartment was still inside the building on the second floor. The ground floor was unoccupied. The two-story building consists of Catrachos Unisex Salon on the ground floor and two apartments on the second level.

Second Precinct police officers Matthew Berube and Michael Haggerty, as well as Emergency Service Section officers Giacomo Marchese and John Farrell responded to a 911 call reporting a fire at 1344 New York Ave. around 1:30 a.m.

The second floor was engulfed by flames when the officers arrived.

Berube entered the burning building through a street level entrance, climbed the stairs to the second floor, found the woman and safely escorted her out of the building, unharmed.

Marchese and Farrell set up an extension ladder at the back of the building. Marchese steadied the ladder as Farrell and Haggerty climbed to the roof. Farrell handed the 6-year-old to Haggerty who carried the child to safety. The two officers then escorted the remaining family members safely off the roof. The family of four were brought to Huntington Hospital for evaluation as a precaution.

The fire extended into Distribuidora (Libreria) Cristiana Promesas, a bookstore next door. The flames were doused by 2:05 a.m.

The Huntington Manor Fire Department responded with seven trucks and 35 firefighters, who were under the direction of Chief Jon Hoffmann, supported by Assistant Chiefs Chuck Brady, Jim Glidden and Brian Christen, said Steve Silverman, public information officer. The Huntington Fire Department helped with the fire, and the Greenlawn Fire Department provided standby coverage.

The Town of Huntington Fire Marshal and Suffolk Police Arson Squad are investigating. Suffolk Fire-Rescue Coordinators also helped at the scene. The Huntington Community First Aid Squad was also on the scene with two ambulances and paramedic unit.