Update: Firefighters Save Commercial Building
Update, 1:30 p.m.: The East Hampton Fire Department stopped a fire from spreading throughout an industrial building Tuesday morning. Chief Ken Wessberg said the fire started while work was being done on trucks inside one of the bays in a large pole barn at 10 Washington Avenue just before 9 a.m.
According to the chief, firefighters contained the fire to just two bays occupied by a landscaping company owned by Richard Swanson. Oscar's Rock and Dirt, an excavating company, and an electrical company occupy the other bays of the building, Chief Wessberg said. The building is owned by John DiSunno of Amagansett.
"It was a great knockdown by my guys," the chief said Tuesday afternoon after turning the investigation over to the East Hampton Town fire marshal's office. "Unfortunately, the guy lost all of his equipment," including lawn mowers, rototillers, and the like.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation was also called in to oversee the cleanup of fertilizer.
Originally, 9:16 a.m.: A fire broke out in a commercial building at 10 Washington Avenue, off Springs-Fireplace Road in East Hampton, on Tuesday morning. Emergency 911 dispatchers received several calls from people reporting black smoke pouring out of the building at around 8:50 a.m.
East Hampton Fire Department personnel on scene confirmed that there was a fire in the building. It was not immediately clear which business occupies that building. Oscar's Rock and Dirt, an excavation company, uses that address, according to a Google search. East Hampton Fire Chief Kenny Wessberg called for the town's hazardous-materials team to respond at 9:17 a.m.
Earlier, chiefs called for backup from the Amagansett Fire Department's rapid intervention team, which stands by in case firefighters who go into the building need to be rescued. The Springs Fire Department was asked to stand by at East Hampton's firehouse in case there are any more calls.
The East Hampton Town fire marshal's office was called to investigate the cause.
Check back for updates as they become available.