Terryville FD Battles Lawrence Aviation Fire

  On Saturday March 30, 2013 the Terryville Fire Department was alerted of a reported commercial structure fire at 100 Sheep Pasture Road. Terryville FD activated there department to the former site of Lawrence Aviation at 3:22p.m. Upon arrival of Terryville FD 2nd Assistant chief Brendan Pilkington a Working Fire was transmitted with visible fire through the roof of the structure. Due to the heavy volume of fire and no working hydrants on the property itself, multiple mutual aid was requested to the scene and for standby coverage from local fire departments. Terryville 3rd Assistant Chief Tom Young & Company 3 Captain McCarren assumed operations.

It was determined by Terryville command, that all operations would be exterior due to the heavy volume of fire and collapse concerns. Due to a 5 inch supply line being stretched across the Long Island Railroad [LIRR] crossing at Sheep Pasture Rd, LIRR service was suspended on the Port Jefferson Branch from 4:30 p.m. To 9:17 p.m. according to an MTA spokesman. During the firefighting operations a partial collapse of the building occurred. Due to the collapse and heavy fire volume, it was determined that all firefighting operations would be conducted from the outside of the structure, Port Jefferson FD along with Terryville FD put there ladder trucks into operations, pouring 100's of gallons of water on the fire from above.

Terryville Fire Department remained on scene for several hours while an Excavator was used to remove wall on one side of the building to expose remaining pockets of fire. Multiple EMS agencies responded to the scene to provide medical assistance and rehab to firefighters. Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Centereach FD Ambulance & Stony Brook Volunteer Ambulance Corp provided EMS operations on scene including Rehab of firefighters along with Terryville EMS crews. According to Assistant chief Pilkington, two Terryille FD members were transported out of precaution following their visit to the rehab area. All Fire department units took up by midnight. A total of 13 local fire & ems departments were called to assist in the operation. Stony Brook FD provided coverage to the Port Jefferson FD, while Rocky Point, Sound Beach & Nesconset FD provided coverage for the Terryville FD. The fire is currently under investigation by the Suffolk County Arson Squad & Town of Brookhaven Fire Marshals Office.