A 78-year-old Commack man was killed and his son was burned when their house caught fire on Friday afternoon.
Suffolk County said police 48-year-old Timothy Donolli and his father, Louis, were on the second floor of their Deepdale Drive home, when Timothy smelled smoke coming from the lower level of the house at 1:30 p.m.
“Timothy went downstairs and tried to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful,” police said in a statement. He then tried to rescue his father, but the flames prevented him from getting back upstairs, police said.
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That’s when 49-year-old Michael Magner of Huntington, who was working nearby at the time, ran inside the burning house and helped Timothy get outside.
Louis was pronounced dead at the scene. Timothy was taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Firefighters from the Commack, Brentwood, East Northport and Dix Hills fire departments extinguished the blaze.
Homicide and Arson Squad detectives are continuing the investigation. Investigators have determined that the fire does not appear to be suspicious.
