Explosions at Wantagh House Fire

At approximately 1415, on April 9, 2023, the Wantagh Fire Department responded to a house on Holmes Street in Levittown. Safety Officer, ex-Captain Nick Finocchio, reported a heavy volume of fire visible at the front of the house. The owners of the home were not home. Captain Mike Fratello, along with Second Assistant Chief Bill Stevens advanced a hoseline through the front doorand were in the process of attacking the fire, when an explosion occurred. Firefighters were fortunate to quickly get out, howevertwo members sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Due to the rapidly deteriorating conditions, and concern of furtherexplosions, Chief Mathewson ordered all firefighters to evacuate and start an exteriorattack. Deck guns, masterstreams and handlines were deployed. Medics from the Nassau County Police Emergency Ambulance Bureau treated and transported one firefighterto NUMC, and a second was treated and transported to NUMC by a crew from Levittown. Both were treated and released a short time later. The following provided mutual aid: Levittown, Bethpage, Seaford, Bellmore,East Meadow, North Bellmore, Massapequa and North Massapequa. During the duration of the incident, there were two additional alarms which were handled by stand-by units. Command was terminated nearly three hours afterthe alarm was transmitted.