Sag Harbor Fire: Historic Theater 'Gutted,' Community Vows to Rise From Ashes

SAG HARBOR, NY — Fire swept through the heart of Sag Harbor Village in the icy pre-dawn hours Friday, damaging at least four shops and an iconic, historic movie theater on Main Street.

Friday afternoon, firefighters continued to douse the rekindled ruins of the Sag Harbor Cinema, where all that remains is the four walls and the facade, fire officials said. "It's gutted. It's basically gone," a fire department official told Patch.

"The roof is completely gone. You can look from the front of the building right out through the back," Sag Harbor Fire Department officials said.

The fire is believed to have started on the back deck Friday morning; the fire is still under investigation by the fire marshal.

Both buildings on either side of the movie theater were lost or severely damaged, as was the south side of the shopping mall, fire officials said.

Flames and heavy smoke spread rapidly to at least five businesses on the street.

Cars were still not allowed down Main Street in Sag Harbor Friday afternoon.

According to the Sag Harbor Fire Department, the fire broke out at 6:14 a.m. near the Sag Harbor Cinema, with brutal winds and freezing temperatures posing challenges for firefighters who, covered in ice, battled the blaze.

But despite the widespread devastation and damage to property, no one was injured, the Sag Harbor Fire Department said.

Residents turned to social media to document the devastating scene they witnessed:

"I can barely hold my phone. It's 22 degrees out," wrote resident Tanya Malott, who lives close to the fire, on Facebook early Friday morning. "I saw flames shooting 20 feet in the air. The streets are covered in ice. The wind is blowing hard and the entire East Hampton side of Sag Harbor is covered in smoke. This is such a tragedy for Sag Harbor."

She added, "I saw fireman covered in ice. The streets are covered in ice and salt. The guys who are fighting this are amazing."

(See videos below).

The damage was crippling, witnesses said.

The roof of the historic movie theater in Sag Harbor collapsed Friday, the Sag Harbor Fire Department confirmed. Initial reports by fire department officials that the building had collapsed were unclear; officials later clarified that just the roof so far had collapsed.

Firefighters on the scene said that the Compass Real Estate Agency near the Sag Harbor theater was "so compromised" that no firefighters could go inside. "We're planning to to a surround and drown," Sag Harbor Fire officials said, meaning first responders will throw water from outside on the structure.

The roofs of surrounding buildings including the real estate agency and coffee shop were also compromised, officials said.

As of almost noon Friday, firefighters continued to tackle hot spots in Sag Harbor after getting the blaze under control Friday morning. According to the Sag Harbor Fire Department, "We still have hot spots, but we've started to release some of the mutual aid trucks."

Firefighters were still pouring water on the smoking structures, fire department officials said.

The bravery of firefighters reflected the heart of Sag Harbor, which continued to shine through the smoke and destruction as a tight-knit came together in solidarity, while continuing to mourn the loss of history in the village.

Local business owners banded together and vowing to rebuild, even while mourning the loss of precious, irreplaceable history.

Kyle Shanahan, owner of Grindstone Coffee & Donuts on Main Street, said people immediately reached out to help one another.

"The community is really coming together so quickly. We've been taking coffee and donuts to first responders since 7:30 a.m. There's basically a buffet of goodwill in front of the municipal building. Otherwise, it's extremely sad for this to happen to our town. Especially to the theater. So much history lost. Hate to see anything like this right before Christmas."

Jack Tagliasacchi, who owns Il Cappuccino restaurant, was a founder of the Chamber of Commerce and sits on the planning board.

"This fire really destroyed the lives of a lot of people," Tagliasacchi said.

While no one was injured, small businesses will be hit hard by the fire, so close to Christmas, he said.

Kate Mueth reported that all the art at RJD gallery on Main Street was lost.

"We are all very sorry. It's really terrible," Tagliasacchi said.

Tagliasacchi said he was reminded of a fire 20 years ago that broke out on Easter Sunday at the Emporium Hardware store, right near Friday's blaze, a terrible coincidence, he said.

Hearts are broken, Tagliasacchi said, by the damage to the historic Sag Harbor Cinema. "That can never be replaced to the way it was. For that, I feel really badly," he said. The theater's future remains uncertain, he said, and even if rebuilt, "It's never going to look the same as it used to. There are things from the past that you cannot replace."

In addition, he said, merchants will feel the blow of the fire. "All these stores are individually owned, not big chains. This will affect their livelihood. It's really sad. And we are so proud of our village."

And yet, Sag Harbor's indomitable spirit remains strong, Tagliasacchi said. "Sag Harbor will recuperate like it did in the past."

It's the low season, he said. "By the time spring comes, a lot of things are going to be restored. That's my wish."

Added Tanya Malott, "A crazy sad day for Sag Harbor. Our beautiful hundred-year-old Sag Harbor cinema . . . Gone. The businesses of many of my friends ruined right before Christmas."

Malott said that on a trip back into the village Friday afternoon, she saw friends who own the stores to the right of the theater, well-known business owners and one, a firefighter.

Her friend, she said, was hugging his son — who was crying at the ruins before him.

"I wasn't even sure I could go back into town. I was afraid of what I might see. It is worse than I imagined," Malott said.

A statement from representatives of Brown Harris Stevens’ Sag Harbor office, located on Main Street and also affected by the fire, read: "We are saddened by the fire on Main Street in Sag Harbor; our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors, the entire community and those who love the movie theater. Although our office has been severely damaged, our agents and staff are safe. Our agents will continue to service their clients with the support of our many offices in the Hamptons. We have already identified a new space in Sag Harbor and we will remain an involved member of this community as it rebuilds."

Even celebrities reacted to news of Friday's fire in Sag Harbor. Andy Cohen took to Twitter to voice his sorrow, saying: "So sad waking up to the news of the fire in Sag Harbor, especially that gorgeous movie theater. Hope everybody is safe."

The community turned to social media to thank the firefighters who rushed to the scene of a the fire, braving debilitating winds and freezing temperatures.

"What a terrible day to fight a fire," said one woman whose husband and nephews are members of the North Sea Fire Department. "Not that any day is any good. They are an amazing breed, volunteer firefighters."

A large number of fire departments and ambulances responded to the scene including Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Southampton, Hampton Bays, East Quogue, and Flanders, witnesses said.

Photo courtesy of Arnold Tilton, Lynn Falkowski, Erica Jackson; photo of firefighter ©2016 Tanya Malott, photo of firefighters outside theater by Kent Feuerring.

Videos courtesy of Tanya Malott, Lynn Falkowski, Erica Jackson.