'Substantial Damage' After House Fire, No Injuries: Chief

MATTITUCK, NY — A home in Mattituck was left with "substantial smoke and water damage" after a fire broke out Wednesday afternoon, Mattituck Fire Chief James Rugnetta said.

Rugnetta said the fire, which broke out at 3:35 p.m. at the home on Westview Drive and Brower Road, appeared to be electrical, a "two-sided" fire in the home's electrical panels.

No one was home at the time the fire broke out and no pets were in the house or injured, he said.

Mattituck Fire Department 1st Asst. Chief Tedd Webb said neighbor Re Strong, who lives next door, smelled smoke and called him. "She said, 'I think the house next door is on fire,'" he said.

Mattituck and Cutchogue Fire Departments raced to the scene, with Jamesport Fire Department standing by.

Strong said at first, she wasn't sure if it was her own home that was on fire, the smell of smoke was so strong.

Webb credited Strong for reporting the fire so quickly, leading to the rapid response. "It could have been a lot worse," he said.

Patch photos by Lisa Finn.