FBI Offers to Help With East Hampton Fire Investigation

The FBI contacted the East Hampton Fire Marshall earlier this month in regards to a fire that destroyed a home on 56 Hedges Banks Drive in Northwest on New Year’s Day, according to The East Hampton Star and 27east.

The home is owned by Merle Hoffman, a journalist, women’s rights activist and founder of Choices Women’s Medical Center, one of the first ambulatory abortion centers in Queens, according to The East Hampton Star and 27east.

The fire appeared to have started in a garbage can by the 3-car garage, according to both publications.

Fire Marshal David Browne told 27east that while the fire did not look suspicious, an FBI officer offered to help with the investigation “because of who she is. They wanted to make sure she wasn’t being targeted,” 27east reports.

The fire completely destroyed the home, however, all four family members, a massage therapist who was visiting and the family dog made it out with no injuries, according to 27east.

Before it was put out, the fire began to spread to the property next door, owned by Donna Karan, but only caused minor damage to a shed and vegetation, according to The East Hampton Star.

Sean (Diddy) Combs also owns a home in the area, but it was unaffected by the fire, according to The East Hampton Star.

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