On Wednesday, January 1st, 2014 at 10:02PM, Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department Companies 1 and 2 were dispatched to the “Our Lady of Grace Convent” at 29 Shelter Rock Road in North Hills for an alarm sounding and odor of smoke.  Deputy Chief Kiess (8701) was the first unit to arrive on the scene and advised the other incoming units that he had a smoke condition on the first floor of the convent with a strong burning odor.  After continuing his search for the source of the smoke condition, Deputy Chief Kiess located a fire in the boiler room of the very large convent.  Upon hearing Deputy Chief Kiess’s transmissions, Chief of Department Pisani (8702) transmitted a “Signal 10” for a working fire.

The transmission of the working fire added Manhasset-Lakeville F.D. Company #3, the Ambulance Unit and the Port Washington Fire Department for a Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST) to the initial alarm assignment.  The crew of Engine 8712 stretched a hose line to the boiler room to extinguish the fire, while the crew of Quint 8728 performed searches and vented.  A second hose line was stretched to a room adjacent to the boiler room where there was minor extension.  All visible fire was knocked down within ten minutes and crews from Companies 1, 2 and 3 performed overhaul to ensure that all fire was extinguished.  The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office was notified for an immediate investigation and all units were released from the scene within an hour.

Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department units on the scene included Engines 8712, 8711, 8725, 8735, 8733; Quint 8728 and Tower Ladder 8724; Heavy Rescue 8730; Ambulances 8768 and 8769; Fire Police Unit Van 8790; Chiefs Pisani (8702), Farrone (8705), Kiess (8701) and Candan (8704).