Firefighters Douse Blaze Short Time Before Annual Cutchogue Chicken BBQ: Officials

CUTCHOGUE, NY — All in a day's work: As preparations for the Cutchogue Fire Department's 69th Annual Chicken Barbecue were underway, firefighters got called out to tackle a blaze, officials said.

According to the CFD, on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. "just as the chickens were hitting the grills for our annual Chicken Barbecue, the Cutchogue Fire Department was dispatched for a report of smoke in the area of Dignans Road."

911 callers reported seeing black smoke in the northern area of the CFD's district near the Long Island Sound, officials said.

The source of the smoke was quickly located at a residence on Dignans Road; the first arriving officer located a generator that was on fire in close proximity to the home, officials said.

Available members at the firehouse quickly staffed the engine and were responding shortly after dispatch, the CFD said.

"The Captain and Chiefs were able to isolate the gas (LPG) fed fire and utilized extinguishers to control the fire prior to the arrival of Engine 8-5-4," fire officials said. "Once arriving on scene firefighters deployed a handline to fully extinguish the fire and cool the surrounding areas of the adjacent home."

Thanks to the "alert caller and the actions of the first arriving officers, damage to the home was minimal and confined to the generator," the CFD said.

Crews were on scene for about 30 minutes, and were able to "return to their regularly scheduled barbecue duties," the CFD said. "No chickens were burned as a result of this incident."

Added the CFD: "Thank you to the Southold and Mattituck Fire Departments, who provided stand-by coverage later in afternoon to cover our district and handle any calls while we hosted our 69th Annual Chicken Barbecue."