Woman Dies In House Fire; Frantic Husband Tries Desperately to Save Her: Police

EAST QUOGUE, NY — A man tried frantically to save his wife from a house fire in East Quogue but the woman died in the blaze, police said.

According to Southampton Town Police, a call came in on Friday at 4:13 p.m. about an occupied structure fire at 25 West Side Avenue in East Quogue.

The East Quogue Fire Department and East Quogue Fire Department Ambulance were requested to respond to the scene for an active structure fire, police said; the Hampton Bays Fire Department and the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance were also requested to assist at the scene of the fire.

First responding officers found a man, Freddy Berrato, 48, "who was frantically attempting to enter the dwelling and stating that he believed his wife was still inside the building," police said.

The man appeared to have suffered from smoke inhalation due to his attempts to gain entry to the residence, police said.

A search team entered the home and found Linda Berry, 68, inside the residence; she was removed from the dwelling and found to have succumbed to injuries sustained in the fire, police said.

The Southampton Town Fire Marshal’s Office was requested to respond to the scene to assist the Southampton Town Police Detective Division with the investigation of the fire; the Suffolk County Police Department's arson squad were also requested to the scene to assist in the investigation, police said.

Berrato was transported by the East Quogue Fire Department Ambulance to Peconic Bay
Medical Center where he was treated for smoke inhalation, police said.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the home to assist in the investigation of Berry’s death, police said.

A Southampton Town police officer was also treated and released at Peconic Bay Medical Center for an eye injury he sustained attempting gain entry to the residence to locate Berry, police said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is not believed to be suspicious in nature, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Southampton Town Police Detective Division at 631-702-2230.

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