Cops rescue 2 in Brentwood house fire

Two people who ran back inside a burning house in Brentwood to save their dogs were rescued by police early Sunday after becoming disoriented by heavy smoke, Suffolk police said.

Police responded about 1 a.m. to a 911 call reporting a fire at 5 Hewes St., police said.

Firefighters responded shortly afterward, with about 50 volunteers from the Brentwood Fire Department assisted by members of the Commack department, Brentwood fire officials said.

The five residents of the house had been outside in the swimming pool, but two ran inside to rescue two dogs, police said. The fire was confined to the kitchen on the second floor, said Brentwood Fire Chief Tom Waldron.

The two were not able to find their way out due to the heavy smoke, police said. One person on the first floor was able to come out with help from Officer Jesse Zuckerman. The other resident, Adrian Gardener, 25, was on the second floor and about to jump from a window when Officer Paul Schreiber told him to follow the beam from his flashlight through the smoke instead.

When Gardener reached the officer, Schreiber guided him down the stairs and out of the house, police said.

None of the residents was injured, and the two dogs made it out of the house on their own. The two officers suffered from smoke inhalation and were taken to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore to be treated.

Six fire engines were at the scene, helping to extinguish the blaze, Brentwood fire officials said. It took about 35 minutes for the fire to be brought under control, Waldron said.

After an investigation, the Suffolk County Police Arson Squad determined the fire did not appear suspicious.

With Emily Ngo