Too close for comfort, Part I

10 firefighters injured in Franklin Square blaze
JASON DEL REY

Ten Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department firefighters were injured and admitted to area hospitals yesterday after battling a house fire in Franklin Square, Nassau police said.

Two of the firefighters were shocked by a downed power line and eight others were being treated for injuries such as heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, police said.

A preliminary investigation showed that the fire on Smith Street started around 12:50 p.m. when lightning struck a Long Island Power Authority pole in the rear of the home, separating a primary power line that ignited the garage and home, police said.

The garage was destroyed and both that home and a neighboring home were severely damaged, police said.

A mother and three children escaped the fire unharmed.