Firefighters Save Part of Pool House

In blistering temperatures, Southampton firefighters saved part of a pool house that was engulfed in flames on the historic "Mocomanto" property in Southampton Village on Wednesday evening. 

The fire at the 472 First Neck Lane property, which features a traditional Victorian, circa 1882, was discovered fully involved by fire.

Southampton Fie Department Second Assistant Chief Chris Brenner said 911 dispatchers received multiple calls after smoke was seen across Lake Agawam around 5 p.m., though it was not immediately known exactly where it was coming from. Chief Dennis Roy saw a column of smoke on the southend of the lake, and was able to tell dispatchers that it was in the area of Gin Lane and First Neck Lane. He and First Assistant Chief Mike Kampf drove around until they located the fire at 472 First Neck Lane, where an 1882 Victorian house sits on the lake. 

Firefighters were able to make an interior attack and "save a good portion of the pool house," knocking down the fire rather quickly, Brenner said. The pool house was unoccupied at the time, he said. "However, we always try to save life and property," he said.  

No injuries were reported and firefighters were back at the firehouse within an hour and a half. 

"The men and women did an awesome job especially in the extreme temperatures," he said. 

The Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance stood-by and assessed firefighters afterwards. Hypothermia and frost bite are a concern, especially if a firefighter's gear gets wet, Brenner said. 

The cause of the fire, Southampton Village Fire Marshal Dean McNamara said is still under investigation. 

Firefighters were also called out in the cold on Thursday morning after a 7 a.m. automatic fire alarm proved to be an electrical fire at a house at 225 Fowler Street. 

Brenner said Chief Roy and a caretaker arrived to find heavy smoke conditions inside the house. Firefighters were called out for a structure fire at 7:18 a.m. As it turned out the geothermal system that heats the house was ablaze in the electrical room in the garage. Firefighters were able to extinguish it with some water cans without an major damage to the house.