At 1:34 a.m. Sunday morning, Jan. 11, a fire alarm on Whitney Avenue awoke Floral Park Fire Department members. At 1:36 a.m., Chief Kloepfer was on the scene and transmitting a "Signal 10 House Fire," indicating to all department members it was a working building fire in progress.

Residents of the house were home and asleep at the time of the blaze. As the chiefs were pulling up to the scene, residents were already on their way out of the home. The first responding personnel ensured all occupants were out of the house and then prepared to battle the blaze in bitter cold temperatures.

The first arriving fire units, Engine 125 and Ladder 123, were on the scene at 1:40 a.m. and rapidly deploying hose lines and extension ladders necessary to attack the fire and control the blaze. This was completed through the efforts and teamwork of five of Floral Park's fire companies.

Mutual aid units were called from Elmont and Floral Park Centre to standby and protect the rest of the town in the event of another fire call while a mutual aid ambulance was called from New Hyde Park to cover the town. Stewart Manor's ambulance was called to the scene in the event of injuries at the icy fire scene.

The fire appeared to have started around the chimney of the home and traveled inside the walls of the home from the first floor up to the roof. Most of the living room area and second floor bedroom was destroyed since the fire had burned through the ceiling of the first floor living room and into the second floor bedroom.

Sixty-nine Floral Park Fire Department members were present at the scene on Whitney Avenue with another 40 firefighters on assignment from the responding mutual aid units. No injuries were reported and after ensuring all the equipment was back in place and ready for the next alarm, Floral Park Fire Department members returned home at 5:30 a.m.

Did you test your smoke detector today? Fire happens every day in America. It kills every day in America. Did you know it only costs four cents a day to operate a smoke detector while the average refrigerator costs more then $3 a day to operate?

Last year, the Floral Park Fire Department responded to over 1,289 fire and emergency calls. Department members spent over 5,939 man hours in training to prepare and guarantee the safety and well being of residents during times of crisis. Catch the spirit and become a volunteer today. Call 326-6327 for inquiries about membership.