What Happened
An 82-year-old Smithtown man was seriously injured Saturday evening when his home on Oakside Drive caught fire, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Officers from the Fourth Precinct responded to the fire at 115A Oakside Drive at 5:54 p.m. on July 11, 2026.
When officers arrived, the resident — identified as Robert Barathy, 82 — was already outside his home. He was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries, having sustained burns and smoke inhalation, per the department’s press release.
The Suffolk County Police Department states the cause of the fire is believed to be non-criminal, though the Arson Section has opened a formal investigation, which is standard protocol for residential fires resulting in injury.
Location & Road Context
Oakside Drive is a residential street in Smithtown, a hamlet in Suffolk County’s Town of Smithtown. The address — 115A Oakside Drive — sits within a neighborhood of single-family homes typical of this part of western Suffolk County. Long Island Traffic’s local incident database contains 605 recorded accidents in Suffolk County, reflecting the volume of emergencies across the county’s densely populated residential corridors.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Suffolk County Police Department’s Arson Section detectives have taken the lead on the investigation. No criminal charges have been filed, and police have characterized the fire’s cause as non-criminal at this stage. The investigation remains open.
Broader Impact
Residential fires involving elderly residents carry elevated risk of severe injury or death, as older adults face greater physiological vulnerability to smoke inhalation and burns. Barathy’s ability to exit his home prior to officers’ arrival was a critical factor; residential smoke detectors, which are required under New York State law in all one- and two-family homes, can provide that life-saving early warning. Anyone with information about this fire is encouraged to contact the Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct directly.