Deputy Chief 'Badly Burned' During Training Exercise: Nassau County

OLD BETHPAGE, NY — A firefighter was badly burned on Thursday morning, county officials say.

The deputy chief, who was not identified, was hurt at the Nassau County Fire Training Center while working as an instructor.

Michael Uttaro with the county Fire Marshal's office, said, the firefighter was putting together a shipboard training, where the first responders are taught how to extinguish a fire on a prop of a ship, the LIHerald reported.

While setting up the practice fire, combustible liquids ignited, causing a flash fire, Uttaro said. The deputy chief sustained serious burns.

He was transported to Nassau University Medical Center, which has a 12,000-foot burn unit, the Herald said.

Uttaro said he was alert and awake. The deputy chief suffered burns of varying degrees to his hands, torso and thighs.