RIDGE, NY – On Saturday, September 4th at about 5:58 P.M., the Ridge Fire Department was activated for a report of a car fire on the Long Island Expressway (I-495), near the off ramp to Exit 68 (William Floyd Parkway).

Chief of the Department Louis Kaiser was first to respond to the scene. While en route he received an update from the fire rescue dispatcher that reported an involved auto. Moments later the chief was on scene confirming the report and advised Fire Rescue to have his units come into the scene from Rose Executive Blvd. to the back of Clare Rose Distributers.

Engine 5-22-1 was the first-due engine into the scene. On their arrival the crew went to work stretching a line and putting water on the fire. They were joined by members from Engines 5-22-5 and 5-22-3 a short time later. Firefighters from the engine companies battled the flames for a couple of minutes as the car was pretty much fully involved on arrival. Once the visible fire was out, they secured the vehicle by cutting open the hood with a K12 saw and went to work dousing the engine compartment to make sure it did not have any residual pockets of water.

Members operated on scene for about 30 minutes. No injuries were reported. The off ramp to the Expressway, as well as Service Rd. were closed in the area with assistance from Ridge FD fire police and Suffolk Police Highway Patrol.