Teak Store Saved, But Suffers Moderate Damage in Fire

In a late night fire Monday, a teak store in Bridgehampton suffered moderate damage, but the building was saved, according to fire officials.

Joey Belfiore, who called the fire in to 911, said Tuesday that he was driving home on Montauk Highway from La Capannina in Wainscott when he smelled smoke. As a former volunteer firefighter in West Islip, he said, "I knew the smell of the house fire when I smelled it. It's a very distinct smell compared to a brush fire or something."

He kept driving and saw the smoke, but did not immediately see the source, he said. He pulled over, grabbed a flashlight, and searched for it. He said he quickly found the building, where smoke was blowing out the second floor windows, and he called 911.

Bridgehampton Fire Department was called to the store, Deckline of America, at 2183 Montauk Highway, at 10:27 p.m., Chief Gary Horsburgh said. The building was formerly a house.

Horsburgh said that upon the arrival of 1st Assistant Chief Chuck Broadmeadow, who was first on scene, there was heavy smoke coming through the rafters. Then, fire burned through the roof and smoke billowed out.

"There was a van in the driveway and we weren't very sure who was in the house," Horsburgh said.

Belfiore said that, upon his arrival, "I tried yelling to see if anybody was in the house."

However, firefighters ultimately discovered no one was inside the building.

It took between two and two and a half hours to completely put the fire out, he said, because there building was full of antiques, furniture and boxes that kept smoldering. The building was full of "everything except for the kitchen sink," he said, and furniture had to be thrown out the window.

The fire appears to have started at a small wall outside a second-story bathroom, Horsburgh said, though he could not say what caused it. Southampton Town Fire Marshal Brian Williams said Tuesday morning the cause is undetermined at this time.

Most of the damage was contained to the second floor, and the roof, Horsburgh said. Williams described the extent of the damage as moderate, and said the business will probably be closed for sometime while repairs are made.

"We saved the house," Horsburgh said. "It didn't burn to the ground."