Cause of Water Mill Shed Fire Still Undetermined

What sparked a in Water Mill that burned a woman's face and hands remains undetermined.

“The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time,” Southampton Town Fire Marshal Chris Hansen said Tuesday. “There are several aspects that we need to follow up on, and we’re working in conjunction with the town detectives.”

Southampton Fire Chief Rodney "Chip" Pierson said on the day of the fire that prior to the fire department's arrival there was a report of an explosion in the shed.

“There was some structural damage that could lead to that conclusion," Hansen said of the reported explosion.

Hansen said the damage caused by the fire was contained to the shed, which was primarily being used for storage. “There were chemicals in the building consistent with work that the owners do,” he said, explaining that the owners do various crafts. The fire chief had reported there was equipment in the shed for reloading firearms, including acetone and gun powder “There was some reloading equipment in the shed, but it hadn’t been used,” Hansen said.

It's unclear if the explosion started the fire, or the fire caused the explosion.

Hansen said the victim had entered the shed to retrieve something. “When she walked in, it was not on fire at that point,” he said. He could not speak to what happened between her entering the shed and the fire starting. The victim was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center.