The Port Washington Fire Department extinguished a house fire in the midst of the lightning storm last Wednesday night.
Lightning struck 11 Birchdale Lane and ignited a fire in the home’s basement, as determined by an investigation by the Nassau County fire marshal’s office.
The fire was contained to the basement and the rear portion of the first floor and was brought under control within an hour, said Chris Bollerman, public information officer of the Port Washington Fire Department.
There were no injuries to civilians or any of the 78 Port Washington volunteer firefighters who responded to the 9:05 p.m. alarm.
Firefighters operated under the supervision of Port Washington Fire Chief Thomas Golden during the height of Wednesday’s storm, Bollerman said.
He said firefighters had to cut into the cement basement ceiling and the last unit returned from service at 12:36 a.m.
The Port Washington Fire Department was provided mutual aid by the Roslyn Fire Department, Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department and Albertson Fire Department.
The department received 13 calls between 7 p.m. and midnight of which eight were fire calls and five were for emergency medical services. Bollerman said the Port Washington Fire Department handled all but the two fire calls that came in after the Birchdale Lane fire, which was the department’s 11th call.
“The men and women of the Port Washington volunteer fire department performed wonderfully under adverse weather conditions, saving the home of one of Port Washington’s residents,” Bollerman said.
