Firefighters Battled Bridgehampton House Fire for 10 Hours

Update, 11:55 p.m.: After nearly 10 hours battling a fire that broke out Thursday afternoon and destroyed a house in Bridgehampton, the fire was completely stamped out. All of the approximately 100 firefighters returned to their various headquarters by around 11 p.m. 

The fire proved difficult to put out, with pockets of flames popping up from behind walls into the evening. Despite dousing the 9,000-square-foot house with a large amount of water from an aerial ladder truck and all sides of the house, firefighters still found flames as the night dragged on. An excavator was brought in and knocked down portions of the house to get to the fire. 

Temperatures were around 20 degrees and falling. Many of the trucks had icicles hanging from them, and firefighters' gear appeared frozen from the spray of hoses. Water ran down from the property into the street, making for slippery conditions. 

In total, eight fire departments — Bridgehampton, Southampton, Sag Harbor, North Sea, Springs, East Hampton, Amagansett, and Hampton Bays  — responded to 9 West Pond Drive. Montauk and East Quogue Fire Departments were moved to neighboring firehouses to assist while firefighters were out in Bridgehampton. In all, about 100 firefighters were on scene.

Emergency medical personnel from Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Southampton Village, Southampton Volunteer, and Sag Harbor ambulances responded. No injuries were reported. 

Southampton Town fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have begun in the basement. 

Originally, 2:30 p.m.: On Thursday afternoon, on one of the coldest days this season, a fire broke out in a large house in Bridgehampton. 

A fire was reported in the basement at 9 West Pond Drive, a sprawling 9,000-square-foot house off Newlight Lane at 1:25 p.m. Southampton Town police arrived first to find the house filling with smoke. The Bridgehampton Fire Department called for assistance from the Southampton Fire Department and the Sag Harbor Fire Department, which responded with its rapid intervention team, used in case firefighters working inside need to be rescued. 

There was a report of a first-floor collapse, but no reports of injuries.  

The East Hampton and North Sea Fire Departments were also called in to help as the fire raged. Smoke could be seen billowing out of the house, which is across from Campbell Farms, a horse stable off of Newlight Lane. As more fire departments were called in, other fire departments were called to stand by for those that were tied up. For instance, the Hampton Bays Fire Department was responding to answer any calls for Southampton firefighters while they were in Bridgehampton. 

Temperatures Thursday afternoon were only supposed to reach 27 degrees with wind chill values between 15 and 20, according to the National Weather Service. Wind were out of the northwest at 18 to 22 miles per hour. 

According to a Zillow listing, the newly built cedar-shingled Gambrel-style house has an open floor plan on all three levels, including the basement. It has "a centrally monitored security system, Wi-Fi, state-of-the-art songs audio system throughout and whole-house back-up generator. The newly designed outdoor living space includes luxurious lounging and dining furnishings, beautiful zen gardens, widespread granite and bluestone porches, a Lynx natural gas barbecue, saltwater gunite swimming pool with Jacuzzi hot tub, pool house with kitchenette and full bath, basketball court, playground, and gated entry."

This article will be updated with more information when it becomes available.