Updated – 10:28 a.m. Riverhead firefighters are at the scene of a fast-moving fire on the second floor of a building on Pulaski Street this morning.
Town highway crews working nearby saw flames licking at the windows on the second floor facing Pulaski Street and reported the fire at about 9:07 a.m.
First Assistant Chief J.R. Renten and Firefighter Frank Greenwood were able to rescue two residents from the burning apartment, Riverhead Fire Chief Joe Hartmann said.
Renten and Greenwood work for the Riverhead Highway Department and happened to be working on Pulaski Street this morning. They were able to get the occupants out before the fire, which took off quickly, consumed the second floor apartment within a matter of minutes, Hartmann said.
Firefighters knocked down the blaze enough for three volunteer firefighters to gain entry to the second floor and battle the blaze from within. They searched for any other occupants, Hartmann said.
Hartmann said about 45 firefighters responded to the scene, with three engines and two ladder trucks. Ridge Fire Department responded to a mutual aid call and Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps also responded. There were no injuries, Hartmann said.
The fire was declared under control by the chief at 9:53 a.m.
Pulaski Street remains closed west of Osborn Avenue.
Correction: This story has been amended after its initial publication to correct a statement given by Chief Joe Hartmann, who referred to the residents rescued by firefighters as second-floor residents. Information provided later indicated that one of the residents lived in a first-floor apartment and was rescued from the stairway to the second floor. The second-floor resident was rescued from the upstairs apartment.
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