Fire Breaks Out At Vending Times Headquarters Editor Narrowly Escapes

CLOSE CALL:Vending Times editor Tim Sanford is checked out by paramedics at scene.

Vending Times publisher Alicia Lavay was among the last of the office occupants to escape the burning building, feeling her way through a smoke-filled stairwell. She said there was no visibility as smoke spread through the stairwell to the upper floors. Vending Times' longtime editor, Tim Sanford, had to be rescued by firefighters, who extracted him from a window on the third floor using a ladder truck. Lavay and Sanford were the only VT officials in the building when the fire broke out.

There were about 125 people in the building at the time of the fire. Everyone escaped, no injuries were reported and only one office, on the first floor, was destroyed. Paramedics examined Lavay and Sanford for smoke inhalation, and transported Sanford to South Nassau Hospital for further tests.

Several cars parked close to the building also caught fire. Early reports say that a parked car near the building might have caught fire first then spread to the structure.

"It appears that the fire was contained on the first floor," Lavay reported, "but smoke reached the third floor very quickly."

Vending Times has been headquartered in Rockville Centre, NY, since 2010. The trade publication was previously based in Manhattan for more than 40 years.

PHOTOS:Investigators inspect fire damage at Long Island building that is home to Vending Times. Several cars also caught fire.