3 Christmas Eve fires heavily damage homes across Long Island

Christmas Eve was marred by three residential fires on Long Island — in Hicksville, Central Islip and Oceanside, officials said.

No injuries were reported in the fires, which heavily damaged each of the homes.

The first broke out at 5:20 p.m. Sunday at a residence on Maple Place in Hicksville, officials said. The homeowner noticed heavy smoke in the first-floor bedroom, according to a statement from the Nassau County Police Department.

The Hicksville Fire Department, assisted by several other fire departments, extinguished the blaze, officials said. No injuries were reported, and all occupants were able to exit the home.

The fire remains under investigation.

Just under an hour later, the Central Islip Fire Department responded at 6:10 p.m. to a house fire on Myrtle Avenue, Suffolk County Police said on Monday.

The fire is under investigation, officials said.

The American Red Cross registered five families for emergency assistance, including 12 adults and five children.

No other information was immediately available.

Then, shortly after 8 p.m., the Oceanside Fire Department, along with several other departments, responded to a fire on Chance Drive, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Firefighters found the home fully engulfed in flames. The fire destroyed the second floor and attic.

No occupants were in the home, and no injuries were reported, police said.

The investigation is ongoing.

By Craig Schneider

craig.schneider@newsday.comScraigo

Craig Schneider is a Long Island native and Stony Brook University alumnus. He joined Newsday as a general assignment reporter in January 2018 after 20 years at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.