Bridgehampton House Damaged by Flames

Firefighters from four departments on the South Fork fought a fire for about three hours in a Bridgehampton house that suffered extensive damage on Friday afternoon.

In freezing temperatures, the Bridgehampton Fire Department was called to a fire at 2 Sea Farm Court at 1:24 p.m. The homeowner told dispatchers the chimney had collapsed and it was on fire. A large pile of wood was in the front yard. The man was still inside the one-story house when the first chiefs arrived, but he was able to walk out on his own. 

Firefighters had a difficult time immediately finding fire hydrants that were covered by snow. 

Chief Gary Horsburgh called for additional resources from the Sag Harbor Fire Department. A rapid intervention team from the East Hampton Fire Department responded, in case firefighters needed to be rescued. Because of the length of time it took to extinguish the fire, particularly in the basement, East Hampton's crew was used to fight the blaze, and the rapid intervention team from the Southampton Fire Department was also brought in.

It was unclear what caused the fire and where it began. Fire chiefs confirmed that the chimney was compromised in some way. Two Southampton Town fire marshals responded, and they are investigating the cause.  

Emergency medical technicians from the Bridgehampton Fire Department, the Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association assessed firefighters' conditions. No one was injured. 

All firefighters were released just after 4 p.m.

Check back for more information as it becomes available.