Pre-dawn flames broke out at a powerless New Hyde Park building today, killing one resident and injuring two others, authorities said.
The fire began at 6 a.m. at a two-story brick building at 1217 Jericho Turnpike, where the Angry Gnome bar sits under second-floor apartments.
When firefighters arrived, they found one man who had staggered through the smoke and collapsed on the sidewalk, officials said.
Firefighters then went inside and pulled out two men from the second floor, one from the front and one from the rear, according to New Hyde Park fire chief Robert Von Werne.
“We recovered two from the second floor, and one was dead on arrival” at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Von Werne said.
The man who died was 51, and notification of his family is pending.
The two injured apartment residents were 58- and 50-year-old men, in critical and stable condition, respectively.
There were six people in apartments when the fire broke. One female, 46, and two other men, 47 and 58, were not injured
The building had no power, due to the Hurricane Sandy damage.
Fire inspectors want to know if candles or an imported power source might have ignited the blaze, officials said.
Flames gutted the interior but the building did not collapse. Two neighboring buildings were not damaged.
Almost all of Long Island remained powerless again today.
Suffolk County Sheriff’s deputies will be passing out ice at 5 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Riverhead and Yaphank Correctional Facilities
“Ice is a critical need to keep food and certain medications from spoiling,” said Suffolk Sheriff Vincent DeMarco.
Authorities warned Long Island residents from using dangerous sources of heat inside their homes.
Nassau University Medical Center reported treating seven patients for carbon monoxide poisoning yesterday and today.
The patients has been using coal, natural gas and gasoline-fueled generators inside their homes.
With so much of Long Island without power, many resident are fleeing for hotels. Nassau County officials asked consumers to keep an eye out for price gouging.
“It would be an unacceptable and deplorable thing for businesses to try and take advantage of individuals in desperate need for basic services,” said Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos.
Additional reporting by David K. Li