November 13, 2005 - At approximately 3:30 pm, on Sunday afternoon, the Oceanside, New York Fire Department was alerted to a reported building fire at Long Beach Road and Foxhurst Road.
This location is adjacent to the Oceanside Fie Departments Headquarters.
The Oceanside dispatcher advised all responding units they had fire in a vacant Foodtwon Store, and they were going to work.
Units arrived to find fire showing out the rear and smoke pushing from all sides of the 1- story, 400x200 vacant supermarket.
Chief of Department Sean Lynch, after a quick risk/reward analysis, ordered an exterior attack. He additionally called several area towns for tower ladders and engines to supply them.
The well advanced fire eventually spread to three vacant stores which were part of the complex.
Firefighters, assisted by the presence of a fire wall, made a stand and kept the fire from extending into exposure 4, an occupied movie theatre.
At the height of the blaze, 7 aerial devices, numerous multi-versal appliances and handlines operated.
A handfull of firefighters suffered minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals.
In all, over 15 departments from as far West as Inwood and North to Elmont operated at this blaze, which was declared under control around 8pm, but units were on scene until 11:20 pm.
