In Recognition Of Exemplary Effort

A fire last week that consumed an oceanfront house in East Hampton Village is a reminder of the astonishing commitment of this area’s fire and emergency medical volunteers.

As many as 100 East Hampton firefighters responded to the blaze, which apparently was sparked by workers and made impossible to contain because of high winds. The volunteers remained at the fire well into the night, but were summoned twice to return, already exhausted, as flames erupted anew from the rubble.

Neighboring departments provided additional engines, tankers, and manpower both to help contain the flames and provide backup in the case something else happened. And it did: While the Fire Department was busy at the West End Road house owned by Peter Morton of Hard Rock Café fame, a small plane had a hard landing at East Hampton Airport, and a North Sea fire crew rushed to the scene.

It is a shame that the fine old house could not be saved. Ellery S. James had it built in the 1920s, and it had outlasted hurricanes and the vagaries of changing tastes. However, its spectacular end gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the many volunteers who responded to the call, as well as those who respond to emergencies large and small each and every day.