Fatal Fire Destroys Two Bellmore Homes, Kills One Resident

A devastating house fire in Bellmore claimed one life and injured three others early Wednesday morning, including two Nassau County police officers who attempted a rescue in the burning home.

The blaze erupted around 4:30 a.m. at a residence on Chapman Avenue, quickly intensifying before spreading to a second home and damaging a third property. Bellmore Fire Department Chief Ozechowski reported that crews arrived to find heavy fire conditions that prevented initial entry into the structure.

“Sadly one occupant is deceased at the scene, despite valiant efforts to rescue the trapped occupant by fire department and police officers,” Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro said in a statement.

Firefighters faced additional challenges when they discovered a fire hydrant covered in ice and snow that required digging out, causing what officials described as a “slight delay” in suppression efforts. The harsh winter conditions that have gripped Long Island in recent days appear to have complicated the emergency response.

The intense flames caused structural collapse in both of the main affected homes. Residents of the second house managed to evacuate safely on their own before the fire spread to their property.

Two Nassau County police officers were treated for smoke inhalation after attempting to enter the burning structure to assist with rescue efforts. A third civilian also required medical treatment for smoke inhalation.

The Chapman Avenue neighborhood, located in the heart of Bellmore near the border with Wantagh, consists primarily of single-family homes built in the mid-20th century. The close proximity of houses in the area contributed to the rapid spread of flames between structures.

Bellmore, a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead, sits in central Nassau County and is home to approximately 16,000 residents. The community is served by the volunteer Bellmore Fire Department, which has protected the area since 1923.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office. Officials have not released the identity of the victim or provided additional details about the circumstances that led to the fatal blaze.

This tragedy marks one of the most serious residential fires in the area in recent memory. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of working smoke detectors and evacuation plans, particularly during winter months when heating systems work overtime and emergency response can be hampered by weather conditions.

The investigation continues as officials work to determine what sparked the deadly blaze that destroyed two homes and left a Bellmore family devastated.