Smithtown FD-House fire on Nowick Lane

February 16, 1967 Quick thinking and courage on the part of a nine year old boy resulted in the rescue of his younger brother when fire swept through the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kelly. The fire was reported in the evening hours. According to Mrs. Kahn, her children-Deborah, 6, Richard, 8, and Franklin, 9-were watching television downstairs in their split level home. Another child, Lawrence, 3, was also home. At approximately 2015 hours, Mrs. Kahn saw flames shooting from the laundry room. She alerted the children and called the fire department. The children evacuated the house but Franklin stopped to ask Mrs. Kahn about the baby. She told him to leave the house as she would get the baby, but Franklin took off, grabbed the baby and exited the house. By that point, the fire had extended up to the hallway, making access to the baby’s room impossible. Little Franklin’s actions truly saved the baby’s life.
Smithtown FD arrived and extinguished the fire. Damage to the house was extensive. Smithtown News 2-23-1967.