LONG ISLAND, N.Y.-- A major fire engulfed an apartment building on Long Island Tuesday evening. The fire was so strong that firefighters from six different departments were called in to fight it. It happened on Broadway in Hewlett and that's where Eyewitness News reporter Jim Dolan is with the story.
The fire department had to take down trees and branches in the area around the building so the fire would not spread. But the trees and branches were the least of it because more than 30 families are wondering where they will be living tomorrow.
Flames devoured the roof of the Hewlett apartment building -- 35 apartments were destroyed or damaged and dozens of residents were left homeless.
"I thought it was a gas leak because there were firefighters and they blocked all the cars ... but then we hurried outside and saw smoke ... and we're really scared," a resident said.
"They shut off the electric and I ran back in to get my 89-year-old neighbor and my cat and we just ran out and they just started evacuating us," another resident said.
No residents were hurt, but two firefighters were injured in a blaze that spread first between the walls of the building.
"You could tell from the amount of smoke pushing out that it was going pretty good," Hewlett Fire Department Chief John Quaranto said.
It's going to be a long night as residents try to figure out what comes next for them.
Jim Dolan: "Do you know what you are going to do tonight?" Resident: "I'm gonna go have a drink and I don't know ... I'm going to wait and see what's going on."
We are told the firefighters' injuries are minor. Those families who don't have a place to stay are being offered shelter with the Red Cross.
Copyright 2007 by WABC-TV.
Republished with permission of WABC-TV.
