Update: Fire in Sagaponack Brings Out Several Fire Departments

The story as it appeared in print on Aug. 3: The Southampton Town Fire Marshal’s office continued to investigate the cause of a fire Monday afternoon at a Sagaponack house, though John Rankin, the marshal leading the investigation, said Tuesday that it did not appear suspicious.

The blaze, at 175 Merchant’s Path, apparently began in a basement electrical room and was thought to have been an equipment malfunction, Mr. Rankin said. He is still working to determine the exact cause.

Bridgehampton Fire Department Chief Jeff White discovered smoke pouring out from the base of shingles on the side of the 3,000-square-foot house when he answered an automatic gas-detector alarm that went off at 1:50 p.m. No one was home at the time.

While a Bilco door was unlocked, firefighters did have to break the front door and a few windows to gain entry to the house. They found some smoke on the first floor, which intensified with time, Chief White said. It took about 40 minutes to find the origin of the flames, between the basement ceiling and the first floor, near a dryer vent and a gas line.

Mr. Rankin, the fire marshal, ruled out the electric clothes dryers — one on the first floor and one in the basement — as a possible cause. A gas line, running to a stove and heating equipment, was also ruled out.

Chief White said that because the fire occurred in the middle of the day when many volunteers were working, he called for help from neighboring departments. Several responded, starting with an engine from the East Hampton Fire Department and a rapid-intervention team from Sag Harbor, which was on standby in case firefighters needed rescue.

Also, there was a water supply issue, with only an electric well in the area. A tanker from Sag Harbor was called in to supply water, and a truck from Springs was brought in as well, later on.

Complicating matters, a Bridgehampton fire truck was involved in an accident at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Sagg Road and was held up in its response because of it. There was minor damage to the truck. The other vehicle was able to drive away from the scene after a report was filed with police. No one was injured.

Back at the house, although firefighters were there for a long time, fire damage was minimal, the chief and fire marshal said. The fire was contained to an area of the basement. What took more time and caused more damage was checking the walls for members. The rest of the house was damaged by smoke.

All told, firefighters from the Sag Harbor, Southampton, Amagansett, and Springs Fire Departments responded, along with the Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association. The Montauk Fire Department stood by at Bridgehampton’s headquarters to answer fire calls.

The house was listed on Douglas Elliman’s website for $50,000 for the month of July. It had been rented. 

Update, 11:14 p.m.: The Southampton Town Fire Marshal's office is investigating what caused a fire at a house in Sagaponack on Monday afternoon.

Chief Jeff White, who answered an automatic fire alarm in the basement that went off at 1:50 p.m., found smoke coming out from the base of the shingles on the side of the house. While a Bilco door was unlocked, the Fire Department did have to break the front door and a few windows to gain entry to the house, where they found some smoke on the first floor. He said it took about 40 minutes to find the origin of the fire, near the vent for the gas dryer between the basement ceiling and the first floor. However, he does not know what sparked the fire. 

Chief White said that because the fire occurred in the middle of the day when many volunteers are working , he calle for help from neighboring departments, starting with an engine from the East Hampton Fire Department and a rapid intervention team from Sag Harbor, which was on stand by in case firefighters need to be rescued. 

There was a water supply issue, with only an electric well in the area. A tanker from Sag Harbor was called in to supply water, and later a truck from Springs was also brought in. 

A Bridgehampton fire truck was involved in an accident at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Sagg Road and was held up in its response because of it, the chief said. There was minor damage to the truck, and the other vehicle was able to drive away from the scene after a report was filed. No one was injured. 

Back at the house, fire damage was minimal, the chief said. The fire was contained to an area of the basement. What took more time and damage was checking the walls for fire extension. 

All told, firefighters from the Sag Harbor, Southampton, Amagansett, and Springs Fire Departments responded, along with the Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association. The Montauk Fire Department stood by at Bridgehampton's headquarters to answer fire calls. 

Originally, 2:35 p.m.: Firefighters are battling a fire in Sagaponack Monday afternoon. 

The fire was discovered after an automatic fire alarm in the basement was activated at 175 Merchant's Path, a 3-000-square-foot house in Sagaponack north, near Ranch Court, at about 1:50 p.m. A Bridgehampton Fire Department chief said it was working structure fire a few minutes later. 

Several engines from Bridgehampton Fire Department responded, and the chief requested assistance from the neighboring departments in Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Southampton, and Springs. One of the fire trucks was reportedly involved in a minor accident with another vehicle near the Sagg Road and Montauk Highway intersection. No injuries were reported. Southampton Town police responded. 

An engine from the Montauk Fire Department was also requested to stand by in Bridgehampton. 

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.