Police: Three taken to hospital after fire in Syosset condos

Three residents were transported to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and at least seven town house units were rendered uninhabitable after a fire raced through a condominium complex in Syosset late Wednesday night, Nassau County police and the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office said.

All of the injuries were minor, authorities said.

The fire, at the Hidden Ridge at Syosset condominium complex on Summit Way, was reported in 911 calls at about 10:15 p.m., police said.

Nassau Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro said arriving Syosset firefighters found "heavy fire" and said about 200 firefighters from 17 departments, including four Suffolk County departments, battled the blaze to keep it from spreading to a half-dozen other attached units. Uttaro said the situation was compounded by the fact the units had a common cockloft, or attic space, that allowed the fire to spread.

Firefighters "did a fantastic job keeping the fire from spreading" further, Uttaro said in a statement, noting the blaze was brought under control in about 90 minutes.

There later were two small rekindles, due to what Uttaro said was the inability to gain access to certain areas of the structure because it was deemed unsafe.

Uttaro said the Town of Oyster Bay Building Department will now determine if the structure needs to be demolished due to safety concerns.

The cause of the fire is not considered suspicious at this time, though fire officials did not immediately detail the cause.

Uttaro said the Red Cross and Nassau County Office of Emergency Management were assisting with the relocation of displaced residents.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”