by Kiawana Rich
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A roaring blaze gutted a three-story house in Rosebank last night, and firefighters struggled for an hour and a half to douse the flames.
No one was home at 198 St. Mary's Ave., where the fire erupted at 11:03 p.m., and no one was injured, according to the city Fire Department.
The FDNY said the fire started in the basement and spread to the first and second floors. The blaze went to three alarms, and neighbors turned out on a hot night to watch firefighters put five lines on the blaze. They continually checked walls and the ceiling for pockets of fire.
The house suffered heavy smoke and water damage.
The owner, 71-year-old Francesco Aragona, is away in Pennsylvania, said his niece, who identified herself only as Sky. She said someone alerted her to the fire.
"It's absolutely scary to watch, mostly because it is in your neighborhood," said Pamela Falco, 44, who lives on Hylan Boulevard and detoured on her way home to investigate.
An FDNY spokesman said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
The response by the FDNY and EMS cut off traffic and delayed S78 and S52 buses traveling in either direction along Tompkins Avenue.
Responding to the fire were Battalion 22, Engine Co. 155, Ladder Co. 79, Engine Co. 160, Ladder Co. 82, Ladder Co. 81, Rescue 5; Ladder Co. 77, and Engine Cos. 153 and 152.
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