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aMITyvIllE _____________
HERALD RECoRD
Copiague’s Ev Newman pens new book
Residents share thoughts on kindness
This week’s Pets, Pets, Pets
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VOL. 112 NO. 7
FEBRUARY 18 - 24, 2026
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Zone2 photography/Paul Mazza
Photo shows tired faces of firefighters as they battle blaze at 41 Braham Ave., Amityville Feb. 8.
Amityville firefighters battle two blazes in brutal cold By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Amid freezing temperatures and fierce winds off the bay, volunteers with the Amityville Fire Department spent the weekend of Feb. 7 and 8 battling two major house fires on consecutive days — a demanding stretch that tested their endurance, training and resolve. The first broke out Saturday, Feb. 7, at about 2 p.m. at 69
Ocean Ave. Fire Chief Stephen Juliano arrived to find a chimney fire that had spread to the second and third floors and immediately called for additional volunteers. “Everyone was already out of the home and we were advised that there were no pets inside,” Juliano said. As wind-driven flames threatened neighboring houses, firefighters stretched two handlines in icy conditions while
mutual aid requests were sent to surrounding departments. Exchange Ambulance of the Islips responded to provide medical support. Firefighters from North Amityville, Copiague, Massapequa, North Lindenhurst, Lindenhurst, East Farmingdale, South Farmingdale, Farmingdale Village, Seaford and West Babylon assisted, along with Suffolk County Fire and Rescue Emergency Services. A county bus
rehab unit and a MERV unit, used to monitor air quality, were also deployed. About 75 volunteers operated 15–20 pieces of equipment at the scene. Despite treacherous ice
and bitter cold, no injuries were reported. “We can’t thank the firefighters who were at the scene enough,” said a neighbor who CONTINUED ON PAGE 6