Melville Fire Department Battles Easter Sunday Brush Fire

The Melville Fire Department responded to a brush fire on Easter Sunday, April 16, at 12:01 p.m. on Burrs Lane. This was the third brush fire that Melville firefighters have handled in less then a week. The latest fire involved a 400×100 foot wooded area about the size of an acre. The fire came within a few feet of a house and deck where it was stopped by firefighters. The fire involved part of the Suburban Water Gardens nursery and adjoining property at the southern end of Burrs Lane.

Melville firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Dix Hills, Huntington Manor, Wyandanch and Deer Park fire departments. The Plainview and Cold Spring Harbor fire departments provided standby fire and rescue coverage for Melville during the alarm. One Melville firefighter suffered a shoulder injury while fighting the fire, and was transported to Huntington Hospital where he was in stable condition.

Sixty firefighters using ten trucks battled the blaze, under the command of Melville Fire Chief Jason Bernfeld and Assistant Chiefs Chris Nolan and David Kaplan. The fire was contained within 45 minutes and brought under control at 1:30 p.m. Suffolk Police Aviation assisted with a helicopter to provide the Chiefs with aerial fire condition reports. Suffolk County Fire Rescue Coordinators also provided assistance.

Story by Steve Silverman, Melville Fire Dept. Photos