Firefighter Springs To Action When Woman's Hair, Blouse Catches Fire In Melville

A firefighter was luckily in the area when a woman's hair and blouse caught fire in Melville on Sunday.

According to fire officials, the 58-year-old woman was next to a Sterno food heater when she caught fire at a pool club on Westbourne Lane at 6:30 p.m.

Melville volunteer firefighter and EMT Isaac Vargas noticed the woman in distress and quickly sprung into action. He rolled the woman onto the ground, extinguished the flames and then began treating the woman with first aid.

The woman suffered burns on her hand, arm, neck and shoulder. She was transported to Nassau University Medical Center by Melville Fire Department Rescue Squad.

Melville Fire Department Rescue Squad responded to the scene and arrived with two ambulances and a paramedic unit. All units were under the direction of Assistant Chief David Kaplan.

Photo by Steve Silverman: Pictured from left, are Melville Rescue Squad EMT's Debbie Archer, Linda McDonough, Firefighter/EMT Isaac Vargas and Assistant Chief David Kaplan who congratulated Vargas for a job well done.

Information by Public Information Officer Steve Silverman