UPDATE: Lynbrook Firefighters Extinguish Christmas Eve Fire at VFW Hall

Lynbrook firefighters extinguished a fire at the Hall Saturday afternoon at 12:13 p.m. and one firefighter was hospitalized with a head laceration, according to police.

The fireman, 55 years old, suffered a gash to his head while working on the roof of the building. He was treated and released from a local hospital after receiving stitches, according to ex-captain Steve Grogan.

Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office responded at the request of Chief Michael Hynes and they determined the blaze was most likely caused by an electrical problem in the bar area where a computer had been located. It was determined to be non-suspicious and an investigation is ongoing.

It took firefighters over an hour to bring the fire under control, and they remained at the scene for another hour to overhaul and make sure the fire had not extended to other areas of the building, according to Grogan.

The fire loss to the VFW has now been placed at $700,000 to $1 million, Grogan said.

The had stand-by from Valley Stream, Lakeview-RVC, Malverne, and Elmont. Departments responded with 250 fire personnel and 12 pieces of fire apparatus.

Lynbrook firefighters were responding to a reported propane gas leak on a truck on Peninsula Blvd. when Engine Company 1, traveling on Merrick Road to the scene, saw smoke coming from the VFW’s one story building on the corner of Merrick Road and Vincent Avenue. They broadcast a Signal 10 for a working fire and immediately hooked up to the hydrant on that corner.

Chief Hynes commended Engine Company for spotting the fire while going to the other call. He also praised the quick work of all the firefighters which contained the fast moving fire and saved the rest of the building. 

“If this fire had not been seen or even called in later, it could have destroyed the whole building," Hynes said.