Fire Breaks Out At Woodcliff Park Community, Leaving 3 Residences Damaged: Police

BAITING HOLLOW, NY —Three residences were damaged in a fire that broke out in the Woodcliff Park community in Baiting Hollow Thursday morning, police said.

According to Riverhead Town police, the structure fire broke out at about 9:54 a.m. in the summer cottage community.

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Upon arrival patrol units observed a working fire at one unoccupied residence, police said. The fire caused damage to two additional unoccupied residences, police said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Riverhead Town fire marshal and has been deemed non-suspicious at this time, police said.

The Riverhead Fire Department said Chief Piotr Kurzyna observed a column of smoke while responding to the scene and a working fire was transmitted to all responding units.

Upon the arrival of the fire department arrival, a single story, vacant residence with a heavy fire load was located, officials said.

Chief Kurzyna immediately requested mutual aid from the surrounding area to assist in extinguishing the fire, the RFD said.

The fire was extinguished by about 50 firefighters from the Riverhead Fire Department and surrounding mutual aid departments, officials said.

The Riverhead Fire Department responded with three engines, two ladder trucks, one water tanker and two support vehicles, officials said.

Two nearby residences were spared from heavy fire damage, the RFD added.

One injury was reported to a firefighter from one of the mutual aid fire companies; the firefighter was treated and released at the scene, the RFD said.

Fire departments that responded and extinguished the blaze included the Riverhead Fire Department, Jamesport Fire Department, Ridge Fire Department and Wading River Fire Department, police said.

The Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Westhampton Beach Fire Department responded to assist, police said.

The fire scene was cleared at 11:38 a.m., officials said.

Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation is asked to call the Riverhead Town Police Department at 631- 727-4500, Ext 312.