100-Plus Battle Blaze in Bridgehampton

Working for at least three hours, over 100 firefighters battled a house fire in Bridgehampton that is believed to have erupted after a lightning strike during a storm in the early morning hours on Sunday.

Bridgehampton Fire Department Chief Gary Horsburgh said the call began with an automatic fire alarm at 10 Bridge Hill Lane at 1:52 a.m.

Second Assistant Chief Jeff White and a captain responded to investigate and smelled smoke coming from the basement. "It was so still, hot, and humid that the smoke was just lingering around," Chief Horsburgh said.

Chiefs immediately requested assistance from the nearby Sag Harbor Fire Department's rapid intervention team, which stands by in case firefighters need to be rescued. "Then we had to put them to work, so I called the Southampton Fire Department's R.I.T. team, but then I had to put them to work too," Chief Horsburgh said, adding that more manpower was needed due to the hot and humid conditions. The North Sea, Springs, East Hampton, and Hampton Bays Fire Departments were called in.

No one was in the house when the fire broke out, and no injuries were reported.

"It started in the basement. It was burning pretty good," Chief Horsburgh said. "It burnt a hole in the floor, came up to the first floor, and burnt the whole west wing. It's completely destroyed," he said, adding that the east side of the two-story house has water and smoke damage.

Though firefighters didn't see any obvious signs of a lightning strike, they believe lightning sparked the blaze. The chief said a neighbor reported hearing "a great big bang and everything in his house shook." The Southampton Town fire marshal's office is investigating the cause.

An engine from East Hampton initially stood by at the Bridgehampton Firehouse to answer any additional calls should they have come in, but those firefighters were eventually needed at the blaze, so the Southampton Fire Department sent an additional engine to Bridgehampton's headquarters.

Additional help was also needed from ambulance agencies because of the number of firefighters on scene, all of whom had to be assessed. The Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps helped at the scene, and the Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance stood by at headquarters. The Southampton Village ambulance also sent its Polaris, an all-terrain vehicle, to help shuttle people and items up the long driveway.

Chief Horsburgh said he didn't get back to the firehouse until 6:30 a.m., though he released some fire departments between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m.