Firefighters, police rescue residents from burning Glen Cove apartment building; 3 hurt

At least 15 people were displaced and three people suffered smoke inhalation after a fire caused by spontaneous combustion broke out at a Glen Cove apartment building early Thursday, authorities said.

Glen Cove firefighters and Glen Cove police used ground ladders and interior stairs to rescue more than a dozen residents from the three-story, 10-unit apartment building on Glen Cove Avenue after the fire was reported around 3:36 a.m., Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said.

Glen Cove Police Det. Lt. John Nagel said two officers and one resident suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to a hospital for evaluation.

No other injuries were reported.

About 100 firefighters from the Glenwood, Locust Valley, Bayville, Sea Cliff, Jericho, Port Washington, Oyster Bay, Syosset and Roslyn fire departments assisted and brought the blaze under control within 30 minutes, Uttaro said.

Uttaro said workers had left their trash and tools behind while doing renovations in the building on Wednesday. Spontaneous combustion of either rags, staining materials or construction debris caused the accidental fire, Uttaro said.

Operating smoke detectors alerted residents to the blaze, Uttaro said, stressing the importance of the devices.

Nagel said the building suffered substantial damage to its interior and roof.

"It's definitely going to be uninhabitable for some time," Nagel said. 

Spokesperson Roni Jenkins said the City of Glen Cove had been coordinating with the American Red Cross to help five displaced families find housing. 

Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck and Deputy Mayor Donna M. McNaughton stayed on the scene with the fire victims until about 6 a.m. The officials had them in their cars "keeping them warm," Jenkins said.