Blaze Consumes Two Montauk Shores Trailers

       A raging fire at Montauk Shores Condominiums destroyed two residences and a shed as the sun rose yesterday.

       The Montauk Fire Department responded at about 6 a.m. with 50 volunteers and 12 pieces of equipment and stayed at the site for over two hours, fighting the blaze and making sure there was no rekindling, said Chief Rich Schoen, who was the last to leave the complex at 8:30 a.m.

       The structures were severely damaged, said East Hampton Town Police Chief Edward V. Ecker Jr. The town fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause, he said.

       Montauk Shores is an oceanfront trailer park on DeForest Road near Ditch Plain. Smoke could be seen billowing in the air as far as the west end of the downtown area.

       Roger Boyle, who lives within walking distance of the trailer park, said he was awakened by the sound of speeding police cars and fire trucks racing past his house, which is on the same road. From his deck, he saw flames rising high into the sky over the East Deck Motel, which was recently sold.

       “I wasn’t sure where they were coming from,” he said. “I thought it was East Deck, but then I saw the flames were behind it.”

       Chief Schoen said one residence was burned to the ground and the other has only two walls left to it.

       Both Amagansett and East Hampton firefighters were on the scene to assist. While some were fighting the flames, others continually watered down the surrounding trailers to halt the spread of the fire. Complicating the task were freezing temperatures and a lack of water hydrants in the area, Chief Schoen said. A tanker truck was used to provide additional water.

       The chief complimented the Montauk Fire Department’s  Ladies Auxiliary for providing refreshments at the site, including water, Gatorade, buttered rolls, and doughnuts.

More photographs of the fire and aftermath.