At approximately 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, the Hicksville Fire Department received a call for a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters were greeted with flames engulfing both the first and second stories of the Bruce Avenue home. The homeowners, Glenn and Adele Werneburg, and their two sons were not home at the time of the blaze.

Firefighters from the department's Station #2 house, which is located just down the block on Woodbury Road and Briggs Street, were first on the scene, arriving within three minutes of the initial alarm. In addition to other departments from Hicksville, mutual aid was provided by the Plainview, Syosset, Jericho and Bethpage Fire Departments. As a result, the blaze was under control within an hour of the initial call.

The house and the family's belongings, however, were almost completely destroyed. In addition, the heat from the fire was so intense that it damaged the cars in the driveway. A firefighter suffered an eye injury and was treated and released from New Island Hospital in Bethpage. Sadly, the Werneburg's dog, a 3-year-old Great Pyrenees, died from smoke inhalation and a rabbit was also lost in the blaze.

As of press time, the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office had not yet determined the exact cause of the blaze but have not deemed it suspicious. The cause is still being investigated, but it is believed to have started in the kitchen area as a result of unattended cooking oil left burning on the stove.

A fund has been set up to help the family through Our Lady of Mercy School in Hicksville. Family friends are asking that donations be sent to the Werneburg Family Fund, c/o Our Lady of Mercy School, 520 South Oyster Bay Road, Hicksville. For more information, call 433-7040.

- Victoria A. Caruso