A mother, her 3-year-old daughter and her 4-month-old son were hospitalized Wednesday after Smithtown firefighters rescued them from a smoke-filled house fire overnight, officials said.
The mom, Kristen Sidik, was in critical condition at Stony Brook University Hospital and her children were in serious condition at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, a Stony Brook spokeswoman said.
All three family members suffered smoke inhalation, a fire official said several hours after the victims were overcome by thick, black smoke in a house on Sterling Lane.
“We would like to thank the community for their concerns about Kristen Sidik while she is being cared for at Stony Brook University Hospital,” the hospitals said in a statement issued at the family’s request. “She remains in critical condition and is being treated by a very experienced team of doctors and nurses.”
Thomas Sidik, Kristen’s husband and the father of the two children, is by his wife’s side along with other family members, the Stony Brook spokeswoman said. He was not home at the time of the fire.
Smithtown Third Assistant Chief Patrick Diecidue, along with two firefighters, made initial entry into the house and were able to remove the girl, Jeff Bressler of the Smithtown Fire Department said.
As the search proceeded, firefighters found the mother and the second child, the infant, inside a bathroom and brought them out, Bressler said.
The children were taken to Stony Brook University Hospital; the mother went to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown. She later was taken to Stony Brook, Bressler said.
Five departments responded at 3:14 a.m., and Bressler praised the work of the firefighters.
“An effort by the entire department saved the three victims,” he said.
Bressler said “it was not a huge amount of fire. It was basically heavy smoke that overcame the victims.” The house is not habitable, he said.
The cause is still under investigation by fire marshals, he said.
The children’s father is a captain in the Hauppauge fire department, which also responded, Bressler said.
The father was on reserve duty with the U.S. Coast Guard in Fort Dix, in New Jersey, and “got back here as soon as he could.”
In addition to the Smithtown and Hauppauge departments, firefighters from Kings Park, St. James and Nesconset responded, according to Suffolk County’s department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services.
With Gary Dymski
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