Nassau cop rescues E. Rockaway family from fire

EAST ROCKAWAY, N.Y. - A Nassau County police officer on his way home from work helped an East Rockaway family to safety early Sunday after he noticed smoke billowing from their house and alerted them to the blaze, police said

The officer, whom police identified only by his last name, O'Connor, had completed his overnight shift in the Fourth Precinct in Hewlett when he noticed heavy smoke in the vicinity of Oceanview Road, police said.

He traced the smoke to 142 Oceanview, dialed 911 and made several attempts to wake the occupants, police said.

Homeowner Hank Armendinger said no one inside -- his wife and three children, ages 17, 15 and 13 -- was aware the house was on fire.

"We were all still sleeping," Armendinger said. "The police officer rang the doorbell seven or eight times. When my wife woke up, she started screaming, 'Fire!' "

Assisted by O'Connor, the family escaped without injury, officials said.

About 100 firefighters were called to put out the fire. The East Rockaway department was first on the scene, dispatching its crews at 7:05 a.m. Shortly after, Oceanside, Lynbrook and Rockville Centre departments sent rescue personal.

Both floors of the two-story home were heavily damaged. It was not known whether the family would be temporarily displaced.

Investigators said it was not known where the fire began. The main part of the blaze was in the attic and burst through the roof. It burned some of the house exterior and the heat melted siding on an adjacent house.

By 8:07 a.m., the fire was declared under control, East Rockaway department officials said.

The blaze was not considered suspicious, fire department officials said.

O'Connor was not available for comment Sunday.

Edward DiCanio, who lives five houses away, was awakened by the firetrucks. "It was unbelievable," he said, "We heard the sirens, so we knew that a fire was nearby."

His and other families from the block gathered at the Armendinger house to show their support. DiCanio said the residents of Oceanview Road are friendly and the children on the block are close.

"Thank God, no one was injured," DiCanio said. "He [O'Connor] was their saving grace."

By A.J. VOEPEL
Posted Monday, March 23, 2009

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