LONG ISLAND, NY — Eighty-two people were helped after six fires broke out between Nassau and Suffolk counties over Christmas week, the American Red Cross said Tuesday.
In Nassau, that number included 13 households with 26 people who were helped in after a fire on Merrick Road in Lynbrook broke out on Dec. 18 and two households with 10 people after a fire on Jerusalem Avenue in Hempstead on Friday.
There were also two households with five people helped after a fire on Maple Place in Hicksville on Christmas Eve, as well as one household with another five people from May Street in South Hempstead on Christmas.
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In Suffolk, seven households with 18 people were helped after a fire on Avalon Circle in Smithtown on Friday, as well as five households with 18 people after a fire on Myrtle Avenue in Central Islip on Christmas Eve.
The region experienced a particularly busy week for firefighters.
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Four fires broke out in Brookhaven Town over the weekend into Tuesday morning.
A firefighter was injured in one in Ronkonkoma on Christmas Eve.
Comparing the same dates of Dec. 18 to Dec. 26, 2022, the organization responded to 13 fires in 2022 and registered 33 households or 110 people for assistance in 2022, the organization’s regional communications director, Frederic Klein said.
Each time, the Red Cross’s Long Island Disaster Action Team provided emergency assistance, including financial assistance, to meet the families’ immediate needs. It also typically provides information packets regarding recovery resources and guidance, cleanup kits, comfort kits with personal care items, snacks, water, and other items as needed.
Red Cross caseworkers will continue to work with families to connect them with additional resources for long-term recovery needs, officials said.
Anyone impacted by these disasters who needs recovery assistance and have not already connected with Red Cross services should contact 1-877-RED-CROSS, or 1-877-733-2767.
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