Fire's Origin Is Found
The fire that consumed Dick Cavett and Carrie Nye's historic house in Montauk on March 18 appears to have started in the garage, not the roof, according to a press release from the East Hampton Town fire marshal's office.
Issued on Tuesday, the release stated that the investigation was "nearing completion." The owners, it said, would start putting the site to rights in a week to 10 days.
One of seven Association houses designed by Stanford White at the turn of the century, the building was totally destroyed despite the efforts of firefighters from Montauk, East Hamp ton, Springs, and Amagansett. Intense heat and the fact that the timber-framed structure was nearly half a mile from the nearest fire hydrant proved insurmountable obstacles. The house, called Tick Hall, was set on the bluffs high above the Atlantic.
Charred Debris
Mr. Cavett and his wife, who also live in Manhattan, had left Montauk the day before the blaze. Mr. Cavett returned to Montauk the day afterward to survey the damage, according to the couple's caretaker, Gregory Donohue, although Ms. Nye, whom Mr. Donohue described as "speechless," did not.
The destruction extended to valuable antiques, Native American artifacts, artwork, and private memorabilia collected over the years.
Mr. Donohue said he and Mr. Cavett walked through the charred debris with a cardboard box collecting what they could. They found some silver dollars, an old Japanese helmet, and an iron kitten door- stop.
He called Mr. Cavett "a bold, brave man who met it head on" when confronted with the wreckage. Mr. Cavett mentioned the possibility of rebuilding, Mr. Donohue said. He added that the couple subsequently escaped to the Caribbean.
Searching For Clues
Since the fire, fire inspectors, insurance adjusters, and reconstruction adjusters have also combed the site, looking for clues to the fire's origin. SCAN Security, whose alarm system first brought firefighters to the scene, has been working full time to keep the curious at bay.
Meanwhile, the fire marshal's statement should extinguish what it calls "speculation by some that the fire started on the roof as a result of construction workers using a torch on the roof."
Because a renovation project had been near completion at the time of the fire, some had speculated that the crew, who left for lunch shortly before it began, might be responsible.
"There is no evidence to support such a theory," the press release states. "The same is true for reports claiming that electrical equipment or systems were the cause."
Point Of Origin
It was, in fact, the cover photo of last week's Star, the fire marshal, David DiSunno, said, that convinced him that the fire did not start on the roof.
Because the blaze was so thorough, Mr. Donohue said, he thought it would be hard to distinguish how it started. He attributed the house's quick demise to its almost 100-year-old timbers and balloon framing, which leaves air pockets through which flames can race without impediment.
However, the point of origin proved to be the garage, on the building's lower level and accessible by a door at the rear of the property.
Montauk firefighters returned three times last week to the site as the fire rekindled. They were alerted by SCAN Security as recently as 10 a.m. Sunday, when, Dennis Snyder, second assistant chief of the Montauk Fire Department, said, flames and sparks were blowing into the woods.
Two brush trucks and 1,000 gallons of water were used to douse the area.
Mr. Snyder added that the only way to end the outbursts would be to bulldoze the area and bury the debris completely. He said Mr. Cavett and Ms. Nye wanted to wait until all measurements had been taken of the existing foundation and chimney, which still stands, and the fire marshal's investigation had concluded.