Firefighters Find Abandoned Home Fully Engulfed: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — A falling tree branch snapped live wires that ignited an abandoned home in Riverhead early Saturday morning, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, authorities and firefighters responded to 51 Main Road in Riverhead, to the area behind the Dari-land Ice Cream Shop, after a report of a possible vehicle fire.

The fire was reported to Riverhead Police by an unknown passing motorist, police said.

Upon police arrival, the fire was found to be a structure fire at an abandoned house which was fully engulfed; the Riverhead Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire, police said.

The Riverhead Fire Marshal responded to investigate, police said.

"It appears at this time that the fire started when a falling branch from a tree snapped the live wires leading to the house," police said.

The wires then ignited the abandoned house, which caught fire, police said.

No one was living in the structure at such time and no injuries were reported during the extinguishing of the fire, police said

Google maps image.