Louse Point House Fire Extinguished

Update, 9:30 p.m.: A Louse Point house sitting on top of an old barge caught fire on Thursday afternoon, but firefighters put a quick stop to the flames spreading to the main part of the house, Amagansett Fire Chief Dwayne Denton said. 

By phone Thursday night, Chief Denton said a contractor at 73 Louse Point Road in Springs, which is a part of the Amagansett Fire District, called 911 when he saw smoke in what was described as the basement. It was really a portion of an old barge that Chief Denton said had been floated up into the meadow and had a house built on top of it. The fire department was called at about 2:40 p.m.

Allen Bennett Jr. and Wayne Gauger, the first and second assistant chiefs respectively, were in charge, and decided to cut a small hole in a deck on top of the barge to get to the source of the flames. About 40 firefighters responded. The East Hampton Fire Department's rapid intervention team was called, as well, as backup.

"They made an excellent stop," said Chief Denton, who arrived later. There was minimal damage to the barge. Firefighters were there about an hour. 

The East Hampton Fire Marshal's office is investigating the exact cause, but Chief Denton said it appeared it may have been connected to landscaping wiring coming from the house.

Original, 2:48 p.m.: The Amagansett Fire Department is responding to a basement fire on Louse Point Thursday afternoon. 

The fire was reported at 73 Louse Point Road in Springs, which is part of the Amagansett Fire District, at about 2:40 p.m.

Chiefs asked for the East Hampton Fire Department's Rapid Intervention Team to respond in case firefighters needed to be rescued. 

Check back as more information becomes available.