A benefit carnival for the burn centers at the Nassau County Medical Center, University at Stony Brook, Cornell University began yesterday at the KeySpan Energy Operations Facility at 175 East Old Country Road.

The money raised from the four-day carnival will be distributed among the New York City Burn Center Foundation, Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation, and the Suffolk County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. These organizations were formed by firefighters for the sole purpose of providing funding for equipment, training, education and prevention at the burn centers in their respective counties.

"The county does a good job of supporting it, but they do not have the funds to send the doctors and nurses to different school and seminars, and there is certain equipment that is not state-of-the-art," said Paul Napoli, co-chairman, Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. "We are trying to make a good burn center a great burn center, in terms of the care and treatment it offers."

The Nassau County foundation raises money through golf outings, benefit concerts, and various fundraisers hosted by the 71 departments in the County. The idea to form the Nassau County Foundation in 1991 was inspired by a similar foundation established by city firefighters to support the Cornell University Burn Center.

"The care, at the very least, is comparable to the other centers in Suffolk and New York City," said Mark Schwartz, board of directors, Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation, of the burn center at the Nassau County Medical Center. "It is certainly an advantage to county residents. In dealing with burns, the sooner you get to the patient the better."

He continued, "In the past if someone had to be transported into the city they would have to arrange air or ground transportation, and the time getting to a critical burn center can make the difference of someone losing a limb or even their life. So the center is essential to Nassau County."

Schwartz expressed his organization's appreciation to the KeySpan Corporation for lending its property to hold the event and their expertise in organizing it. According to Andrea Staub, a KeySpan spokesperson, the KeySpan Corporation is proud to participate in the benefit for the centers. It is one of many charity events the company takes part in throughout the year.

"We are a major part of the Long Island community and many of our employees live here," said Staub. "We feel it is our corporate commitment to give back to the community as best as we can, and by taking the lead in ventures like this we are hoping others will follow our lead in supporting these non-profit organizations."

The carnival will continue today, Saturday and Sunday. The hours will be as follows: Friday, 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m. - 11 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Friday is Emergency Services Night, where police, fire, EMS personnel with ID are entitled to special discounts on rides.