Firefighters extinguished a house fire on Woodcliff Drive in Baiting Hollow Thursday morning. One firefighter was injured as crews from Riverhead and neighboring fire departments battled the blaze.
The Riverhead Fire Department was activated for the structure fire at about 9:55 a.m., according to a department press release. Responding Riverhad Fire Chief Piotr Kurzyna saw a column of smoke en route to the scene and transmitted a working fire to all responding units.
When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire at the unoccupied residence and called for mutual aid from surrounding departments, the release said.
About 50 firefighters from the Riverhead Fire Department and mutual aid companies responded to extinguish the fire. Riverhead crews responded with three engines, two ladder trucks, one water tanker and two support vehicles.
The fire caused damage to two additional unoccupied residences, according to Riverhead Town Police said. Kurzyna said firefighters were able to get the fire under control in time to prevent major damage to the neighboring houses.
The Jamesport, Wading River and Ridge fire departments assisted at the scene. Riverhead Town Volunteer Ambulance Corps also responded, and the Westhampton Beach Fire Department stood by at Riverhead Fire Department headquarters to handle any additional calls.
One firefighter from a mutual aid department was injured and treated at the scene, according to the release.
The scene was cleared at 11:38 a.m. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Riverhead Town Fire Marshal’s Office.
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