Cops: East Garden City Avalon fire accidental

A fire that ripped through an East Garden City apartment building under construction Wednesday afternoon was started accidentally by a worker, Nassau police said.

The worker at the Avalon Garden City apartments was soldering a pipe inside a wall with a blow torch, and ignited a fire at about 11 a.m., police said.

He fled the building, alerting other workers as he ran out, police said.

The blaze engulfed the apartment building, which is part of a complex at 800 Mitchel Field Way, police said.

More than 100 firefighters from 10 departments responded to the blaze, officials said.

A Uniondale fire department volunteer suffered a shoulder injury and was treated and released from the hospital, police said.

The Virginia-based developer AvalonBay Communities has several moderate-to-luxury rental complexes across Long Island. It's the same firm that wanted to build a 490-unit housing complex in Huntington Station, but was rejected by the Huntington Town board in September 2010 amid community protests.

AvalonBay took over the Navy property at Mitchel Field several years ago, and Hempstead Town in 2009 approved plans for a 204-unit complex.

AvalonBay officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.