5-Alarm Fire In Ambulance Garage Destroys At Least 14 Ambulances, 4 Hurt

FREEPORT, NY - A massive 5-alarm fire sparked inside a private ambulance company’s repair garage, destroying at least 14 ambulances and causing a roof collapse early Saturday afternoon.

At around 11:10AM on Saturday, the Freeport Fire Department was notified of an automatic fire alarm at 30 Commercial St, Freeport, NY 11520 in the Emergency Ambulance Service garage. The fire department updated the information reporting that there was a vehicle fire inside the building.

Officials have confirmed that the fire started inside one of the vehicles and quickly spread to other ambulances parked inside.

While battling the fire, oxygen canisters stored inside the ambulances on fire began to explode.

The roof of the building partially collapsed, forcing all firefighters to attack the blaze using exterior methods only. The rest of the building was also severely damaged by the fire.

During nearly 3 hours of fire departments operating at the scene to battle the intense fire, it was raised up to a 5th Alarm fire. The fire was finally brought under control at around 2:00PM.

Officials say that 26 fire departments from Nassau County responded to the scene to assist the Freeport Fire Department. Assistance was requested from as far east as the Massapequa Fire Department.

Three firefighters and a medic were treated for minor injuries suffered from working at the scene.

While the fire was determined to have started inside one of the vehicles, the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

About 14-20 ambulances were destroyed in the multi-alarm fire.