At 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 22, the Glen Cove Police Department received a 911 call reporting a fire at 43 Cedar Swamp Road, the location of Carmen's Deli, two apartments and an office. The police notified the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department dispatcher. According to Chief Dave Spy, the first firefighter to arrive on the scene was Chief Tony Tripp, who radioed a Signal 10, a working building fire, back to the station. Next to arrive were Chiefs Vinnie Martinez, Jr. and Rodney Leftwich, who immediately set up an operations unit. When Chief Spy arrived, he set up a command center in the bank parking lot across the street.

Flames were coming from the front of the roof, said Chief Spy, and when the first engine arrived, Capt. Grella and his crew "went into an interior attack through the side door with their hose, working to knock out all visible fire in the building."

They extinguished the fire they saw, said the chief, however, the firefighters were not aware that there were three ceilings in the roof, and the fire was continuing to rage above them. When they discovered that, the ladder crew went onto the roof to cut holes in the roof and with that, the fire started to break through "all sections of the roof." The firefighters then sounded a Signal 41, a warning of imminent danger, and evacuated anyone still inside. Chief Spy stated the first police officers on the scene had begun the evacuation even before the GCFD arrived.

Once certain that the building was empty, the firefighters waged an exterior attack, with "strong master streams," said the chief, "to knock out the heavy volume of fire" in order to return to an interior attack.

With mutual aid of Sea Cliff Fire Department's FAST team (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) and an engine from the Glenwood Landing Fire Department, the firefighters set up their ladders to go through the rear top of the building, working to push the fire through the front and out.

LIPA was called to cut the power to the building, and the Glen Cove Water Department was called to shut off water to the broken pipes. The Glen Cove Building Department was also called. The Nassau County Fire Marshal was notified for a routine investigation and the Red Cross was called in. Glen Cove EMS was on hand to provide rehabilitation for the firefighters. There was one injury to a firefighter, said Chief Spy, a knee injury that was not serious. Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi also came to the scene. In all, 75 firefighters made up the working team.

The fire was brought under control at 3 a.m., said Chief Spy, calling the incident "a very, very tough fire." Adding to the difficulty was the discovery that the building was originally a house, with a commercial building set up around it. Numerous interior spaces, as well as those multiple roofs, presented additional obstacles. While the fire was brought under control at 3 a.m., the fire department worked until 4:50 a.m. The Glen Cove police stood by until the building was boarded up and made secure.

Chief Spy said, "I would like to thank all the neighboring departments that assisted us, as well as the Glen Cove Police Department and EMS." He added that there has been excellent teamwork among the Glen Cove Fire Department, Police Department and EMS. "Those departments have worked very closely with us," he said, "making our work less difficult." Det. Sgt. Tom Fitzpatrick of the GCPD echoed the sentiments of Chief Spy.

The American Red Cross provided emergency relief for a family of four. The family was given temporary shelter in a nearby motel and was provided with funds for food and clothing. According to Cheryl Plavin, a Red Cross volunteer, relief funds totaled $1,460.

"Many people think of the Red Cross only during major disasters," said Carlos Varon, director of emergency services for the Nassau Red Cross. "However, we will always respond to help those who cannot help themselves."

While it is still under investigation, Chief Spy said the fire was not considered to be suspicious.