Firefighters Tackle Dune Rd. Blaze In Frigid Temps

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Westhampton Beach Fire Department volunteers battled an early morning blaze on Dune Rd. Sunday, officials said.

According to a release, the fire took place at 5:59 a.m., during the frigid early morning hours; Westhampton Beach Fire Department's First Assistant Chief Mauro DiBenedetto was first to arrive on scene, reporting a fully involved house fire in a small home on the bay side of Dune Rd.

Third Assistant Chief Larry Saccente and 7-8-1, the department’s first due engine, arrived on scene soon after and firefighters doused the fire within minutes, officials said.

The department’s ladder truck and a second engine were soon on scene and additional hose lines were laid; the firefighters did a search of the premises and found the building to be unoccupied, officials said.

Although the main fire was extinguished in about 20 minutes, it took approximately another 20 minutes to put out residual fire in the cockloft and chimney area; firefighters also searched for hidden fire behind walls or above interior ceilings, officials added.

"The response was complicated by electrical wires that were down in the driveway and by the cold temperatures, which caused slippery conditions wherever there was water on the ground," the release said.

Westhampton Beach responded to the fire with two engines, a ladder truck, a heavy rescue truck, and two fire police vehicles, while the Eastport Fire Department responded with an engine, the East Moriches Fire Department supplied a rapid intervention team, and the Quogue Fire Department sent an engine and crew to the Westhampton Beach headquarters for standby, the fire department said.

The Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance and the Southampton Town Police were also on scene. Dune Road was closed for two hours.

There were no injuries reported, firefighters said.

Patch photos courtesy Westhampton Beach Fire Department.