Police

Riverhead man escapes house fire

Riverhead fire

A Riverhead man escaped uninjured from a house fire that damaged his Moet Drive home Sunday evening.

Black smoke was billowing out the front door of the two-story house when first responders arrived on the scene shortly after 4 p.m., according to Riverhead Fire Department First Assistant Chief Peter Jackman. The man had already fled the burning building and there were no other people or animals inside at the time, Mr. Jackman said.

“It appears to have started in the basement,” the assistant chief said. “We had two [hoses] in the basement to extinguish the fire.”

Mr. Jackman said about 65 volunteers responded and it took about an hour to extinguish the blaze. The extent of the damage was not yet known, although the first floor sustained significant smoke damage. No first responder injuries were reported.

The man’s sister, Ellen Berger of Mattituck, arrived on the scene to meet her brother and sister-in-law, who also lived in the home. The couple would likely not be able to spend the night in their home, Mr. Jackman said.

Ms. Berger credited the Riverhead Fire Department for arriving on the scene quickly.

“The response is unbelievable,” she said.

The cause of the fire is still unclear. Representatives with the Riverhead Fire Marshal’s office are still investigating.

TOP PHOTO: This home on Moet Drive in Riverhead sustained damage following a fire Sunday evening. Credit: Vera Chinese

Water from firehoses runs into a drain on Moet Drive on Sunday evening. (Credit: Vera Chinese)
Water from firehoses runs into a drain on Moet Drive on Sunday evening. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

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