GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Three people are dead after an early-morning fire ripped through a home in Garden City on Thursday.
The blaze broke out at a stately residence on Washington Avenue at 5:38 a.m.
Nassau County Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael F. Uttaro said Garden City Police officers were the first on the scene after a passerby called 911 to report blaze.
Uttaro said the officers "tried to make entry" and "one officer was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, but we understand he's doing okay."
When firefighters arrived on the scene, Uttaro said the house was fully engulfed with "heavy fire and smoke conditions."
"The fire had a big head start before the fire department and police department arrived on scene," Uttaro said.
It took 12 fire departments to bring the blaze under control.
Officials confirm three people — a 62-year-old male, a 60-year-old female and an 18-year-old female — were killed in the early-morning inferno.
Uttaro did not release the identifications of the victims or a cause of the fire.
“Again, it’s a tragic fire,” Uttaro said. “It’s a good reminder to all of us, make sure your smoke detectors are operating at home.”
Neighbors expressed shock and sadness.
"We knew the family, the young lady is in my daughter's graduating class, they're graduating high school this year. They're a lovely family," one neighbor said.
"My brother said that the whole fire department is grieving for the family lost," said a 20-year-old neighbor whose brother is a firefighter in Garden City. "Unfortunately it's a terrible thing to have happened, especially in a community like this."
The fire in Garden City erupted as hundreds of firefighters battled a 10-alarm blaze that had broken out at a waste facility in Westbury shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. It was brought under control around 11 a.m. Thursday.
More than 68 fire departments from Nassau and Suffolk counties responded to the fire at Jamaica Ash and Rubbish Removal. Some were called away to report to the house fire in Garden City.
"With two major fires affecting Nassau County last night, it has been a difficult time for our first responders," said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. "As always, we owe everything to the first responders who put their lives on the line to save life and property. Tragically, there was a fatal house fire in Garden City. I extend my heartfelt condolences to those affected."
Both of the fires are under investigation.