Man killed, another critical in New Hyde Park fire

An early morning fire at a commercial building in New Hyde Park left a 51-year-old man who lived in a second-story apartment dead and another man in critical condition Thursday, police and fire officials said.

One other resident was injured, Nassau County police said, while two men and a woman were not injured.

The fire broke out at 6:03 a.m., fire officials said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated. Officials said it is considered non-suspicious though still undetermined.

The building at 1217 Jericho Tpke. had lost power during this week's superstorm Sandy, but officials said they did not know if the fire was related to the aftermath of the storm.

The fire started on the second floor of the building, where there are apartments above the Angry Gnome Pub, New Hyde Park Fire Chief Robert Von Werne said.

The second floor of the building was "multiple occupancy," Von Werne said. Police said six occupants were in those apartments at the time.

Firefighters removed all three victims from three different apartments, the chief said. The identities of the victims were not released.

Police said the 51-year-old was taken to North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, where he was pronounced dead at 6:47 a.m. A 58-year-old man, critically injured, was taken to Winthrop-University Hospital, while a third man, 52, was in stable condition at Winthrop.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, Von Werne said.

Also responding to the fire were volunteers and trucks from the Floral Park, Mineola, Hicksville and Manhasset-Lakeville departments.

Jericho Turnpike was shut down in the vicinity of the fire.

With John Valenti