The Hicksville Fire Department this week reported to the scene of a basement fire in a house on the corner of 1st Street and Division Avenue.

"It was an accidental fire; combustible material was stored too close to the hot water heater in the basement," Owen Magee, Hicksville Fire Department spokesperson said this week, explaining the cause of the incident.

The fire occurred on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at approximately 1 p.m. Approximately 40 firefighters reported to the scene. Hicksville received mutual aid from surrounding fire departments. Westbury sent an ambulance, while Bethpage reported to the scene with a pumper. Members from the Plainview department were sent to Hicksville's headquarters to provide stand-by coverage.

According to Magee, firefighters arrived to a smoky scene, and were led by the Chief Pat McGeough. "It was pretty smoky," commented Magee. "One occupant was treated for minor burns and transported to the hospital." He added, "Fire damage was more or less confined to the area of origin in the basement."

Firefighters had the minor blaze under control within about 20 minutes, and were on the scene for about two hours. Seven trucks were on the scene, although only two were used in the fire-fighting operation.

Coincidentally, this was the third basement fire within the span of just a few months in Hicksville. The two other, unrelated basement fires occurred recently on Lenox Street and Ohio Street.