Hempstead house fires displace 7, injure 2 firefighters

Two firefighters were injured Wednesday evening battling a Hempstead house fire that spread to a second home, displacing seven residents, Nassau officials said.

About 5:30 p.m., the Hempstead Fire Department responded to a blaze at a two-story Duryea Place home, Nassau County Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael Mennella said in a news release.

First responders encountered “a well-advanced fire” at the back of the house, Mennella said. It was “so large,” he added, “that it spread to a neighboring home” on Highland Avenue.

One firefighter was transported to a hospital with a head injury not considered life-threatening, according to the release. Another firefighter was treated and released at the scene for unspecified injuries.

The American Red Cross was deployed to help the five adults and two children who have been displaced from the two impacted homes, the fire marshal’s office said.

About 100 firefighters responded to the scene, including volunteers from departments in Baldwin, Elmont, Franklin Square, Freeport, Garden City, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, South Hempstead, Uniondale, Westbury and West Hempstead, the release said. The fire was deemed under control after about 45 minutes, Mennella said.

The Village of Hempstead Building Department responded to assess damages to the homes, he said. The fire marshal’s office and Nassau County Police Department Arson/Bom Squad detectives are investigating the cause and origin of the fire.