After Fire Destroys Hamptons Home, Couple Grateful For Love, Help

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — A couple who lost their Westhampton Beach home in a blaze reached out to thank the community for an outpouring of love in the face of the unthinkable.

"The past week has been an absolute whirlwind," Joy Pasieka, whose Michaels Way home erupted into flames last week, wrote on Facebook. "It's inexplicable, and impossible to put into words, the roller coaster of emotions we are facing in the blink of an eye. We haven't quite wrapped our heads around this reality yet, but we do feel gratitude during this time."

Pasieka said that she and her husband Jason wanted to thank the local firemen, EMTs, and police for their "selfless service and courage" when it was needed most.

"Your bravery and and kindness is appreciated in a way that words cannot express," she said.

On Wednesday, the day of the fire, Pasieka said, she was "unable to process the amount of safety, support, and fortitude that we were blessed with" from Westhampton Beach, Quogue, East Quogue, East Moriches, Shirley, Southampton and so many other locals who raced to her aid.

"I cannot thank you enough," she said.

Pasieka also thanked village, town and county officials who turned out in support — and the owners of Hydrant Hotel, who took in her dogs, even with a full house. And she also thanked her friends and neighbors for a tremendous showing of love and compassion.

"The outpour of empathy is indescribable. Literally. We are touched beyond belief from all of the support we are getting from everyone," she said. "As many of you know, we are new to the area and still adjusting to small town life. Needless to say, this experience has had a major impact on our lives in so many ways. We lost everything in an instant. It's surreal. But this community in which we live has shown and continues to show so much love that it is truly helping us cope."

Before she even got out of her home, Pasieka said she was getting texts and phone calls. "Our real estate broker and friend was there before I could process the severity of the situation. I was barefoot and she gave me her sneakers. She never left my side, other than to take care of our dogs, and stayed with me until Jason arrived," she said.

New friends, neighbors, acquaintances, business associates, and people the Pasiekas hardly know all reached out in some way to offer assistance, she said.

"We are so touched, and also reminded that humans are inherently good. Life and love is what’s important," Pasieka said. "Thank you, all of you, for your compassion. All of your support has helped us recognize that even though we have nothing, we have everything."

Firefighters battled the structure fire on Michaels Way in Westhampton Beach Wednesday, officials say — but no injuries were reported.

The Westhampton Beach Fire Department was called out at 2:56 p.m. for the fire, which was called in by the homeowner who was at home at the time, fire official said. Third Assistant Chief Larry Saccente was the first to arrive on scene and reported heavy fire at the rear of the house and along the roof line. The department's first due engine and ladder truck arrived shortly thereafter and the volunteers began attacking the fire which, according to department chief Halsey Stevens, proved, because of its location, to be particularly difficult to extinguish.

After first fighting the fire at the rear of the building, the firefighters then used the bucket to ventilate the roof; next, interior hose teams were able to fight the fire, which ran through an attic above the second floor, a release from the fire department said.

The modern home had plywood sheathing above the ceiling sheetrock; that, and the 10 foot height of the second floor ceilings made it difficult to expose the fire and douse it with water, officials said.
The fire was eventually extinguished by 5 p.m.

The Westhampton Beach Fire Department responded with three engines, a ladder truck, a rescue truck, a tanker, and a fire police vehicle, which was used to close down the road; the Westhampton Beach Police Department also responded. The Eastport Fire Department assisted with an engine, a fire police vehicle, and two chiefs. The Quogue Fire Department sent an engine and two chiefs to the scene after first handling an automatic alarm on Seagate Avenue. Ambulance crews from the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance Association, Shirley Community Ambulance, East Moriches Ambulance, and Flanders-Northampton Ambulance were on scene and a crew from PSEG was there to shut off electricity to the building, officials said.

On Saturday, a Southold couple also lost everything when a fast-moving fire gutted their home in minutes; the community is also rallying with donations to help them with clothes, gift cards and other donations.