Blaze destroys Sound Avenue barn

Updated – 8:50 p.m: The blaze that destroyed a barn on Sound Avenue Wednesday night sent three people, including a Riverhead police officer, to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The other two were civilians, according to Riverhead Fire Department Chief Pete Kurzyna.

The three individuals who needed treatment suffered smoke inhalation during their efforts to rescue pigs and chickens from one of the barns that caught fire on the Wells farm, the chief said. Two barns caught fire. Firefighters were able to save one, Kurzyna said.

Ten departments responded to the alarm, he said. Firefighters relied on tanker trucks to supply water to fight the blaze, supplementing water that flowed from hydrants.

The fire presented a number of challenges for firefighters, above and beyond water pressure issues. The barns housed animals, equipment and vehicles. Firefighters had to deal with a burning tank filled with diesel fuel and propane tanks in proximity to the flames, the chief said.

Kurzyna said he was very proud of his firefighter in their response to the blaze. They all worked really well together to get the job done. Kurzyna said. Firefighters were on scene more than 3 1/2 hours, Kurzyna said.

The case of the blaze is as yet unknown and remains under investigation, the fire chief said.

Original post: Firefighters are battling a massive barn fire on Sound Avenue in Riverhead. The barn, located on the Wells Farm, was fully engulfed in flames when the alarm came in just before 5 p.m.

The farm is located on the north side of Sound Avenue, opposite Phillips Lane.

Sound Avenue is closed to traffic at West Lane and Church Lane.

Multiple fire departments are on the scene, with tanker trucks, engines and ladder. Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps is standing by at the scene.

This is a developing story. Check back for more information as it becomes available.