No Arrests Made In Fire At Suffolk Marina: Cops

MATTITUCK, NY — No arrest has been made in relation to a fire at Strong's Water Club & Marina in Mattituck Tuesday, police said.

Despite a report on a media outlet that Jeff Strong, owner of the business, had been arrested, Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said that the account was untrue and although there was an ongoing arson investigation, no arrests had been made.

"Not sure where that story came from," Flatley said.

After the report, Jeff Strong spoke to Patch and said the news report had been brought to his attention and, incredulous, he contacted the media outlet and police immediately to set the record straight.

"It's crazy," Strong said. "We've been running this family business in an honest and truthful way since 1945 and yet we were defamed with this very false and unbelievable statement. What the heck?"

Strong said some confusion with the new outlet's interpretation of the press release from police seemed to have sparked the "quagmire."

He also added that despite the fire, the business was 100 percent up and running with "teammates ready to serve" the public."

The fire ripped through four boats in the boat yard at Strong's Water Club & Marina in Mattituck early Tuesday, police and firefighters said.

According to firefighters at the scene, a call went out about 3:15 a.m. regarding a boat fire on Wickham Ave., with Southold Town Police indicating that four vessels were fully involved.

Mattituck Fire Department responded to the scene and the blaze took about three hours to extinguish, firefighters said.

No injuries were reported and the fire was contained by Mattituck Fire Department to four boats in the boat yard, not on the docks, Strong's Marine said.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, firefighters said. Flatley said police are actively investigating, along with the Suffolk County Police Department's arson squad.