LI Family Of 5 Saved From Fire Lost Everything: 'But We're All Here'

MATTITUCK, NY — The North Fork community is opening its hearts to help a young family who lost everything in a Mattituck fire recently.

Colleen Krupski — Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski's daughter — and her fiance Stephen Buczak, as well as their three small children, were saved from the raging flames due to the heroism of an off-duty public safety dispatcher who saw the fire and banged on the doors and windows to wake them.

The couple lost everything in the fire.

A GoFundMe, "Help Colleen and Stephen Get Back On Their Feet After Fire," was created by Rachael Krupski, wife of Southold Town Trustee Nick Krupski.

"Just after midnight on October 16, the family of five was sleeping soundly in their beds when they were woken to the news of the house on fire," Rachael wrote. "Colleen and Steve ran out of the house with their lives, their children and the clothes they were wearing. As they stood outside, they watched their heart and home devastatingly be taken away from them. Leaving all their belongings inside, including all of Steve’s work equipment."

Speaking with Patch, Colleen Krupski described the terrifying night — a night that could have ended very differently.

The hours before the fire were normal, Colleen said. She and her fiance — the couple will be married in December — had Stephen's kids and her future stepchildren, ages 7 and 4, and their baby, 1, at the house. They'd had dinner at a local eatery and were all in bed by 9 p.m.

"I was woken up when I heard banging on the door," Colleen said. "It was disorienting. Then I saw a flickering orange light in the hall and immediately knew what was happening. I yelled 'Fire!'"

She woke up her fiance, who grabbed the two older kids, whose bedroom was on the front side of the house, like their own. Colleen ran to grab the baby, whose room was at the back of the house, where the fire had broken out.

"She was fast asleep when I grabbed her. After I had her, that's when the fire detectors went off," Colleen said.

Off-duty Southold Town Police Public Safety Dispatcher Donna Lane, who was on her way home from work after a 4 p.m. to midnight shift, was able to wake the family even before the fire detectors, she said.

"We ran downstairs and it was smoky," Colleen said. "Then we ran out the door — and here we all are."

The children were not afraid, she said. "They thought it was a big adventure. Thankfully, they were not sad or scared or traumatized," she said.

The baby was fine, too, she said. "She’s okay," Colleen said. "She was just sleepy. She was like, 'What the heck?'"

The fire ravaged the home they'd been renting, she said.

"We lost everything," Colleen said.

A few precious items were saved. "We were digging through sludge and Stephen's sister found my engagement ring," she said. Some photos, although smoky, were also salvaged.

Her wedding dress, thankfully, was at the tailor's. And the family dog was staying with Steve's family.

But there were some major losses. Stephen has a small business, North Fork Forager, a printing company, and A Blessing in Design LI, on Etsy, creating T-shirts and onesies. His printers were destroyed in the blaze.

"Steve’s small business, which he ran out of the home, is put on halt, and their income has drastically changed until he can replace his work equipment," Rachael wrote in the GoFundMe. "If you have it in your heart to help us help them financially rebuild what they lost, it would mean so much to us and them. It would mean the chance to get Steve’s business back up, replace lost and damaged items, and have a small peace of mind, as they work through this tragedy."

Rachael Krupski added, in the GoFundMe: "Now as they try and rebuild their lives and rummage through what is left of their belongings to see what is salvageable and what they need to replace, the real trauma sets in — they were to start fresh in a new home in a few months. Their dream home is set to be complete by the end of the year."

Colleen said she, Steve, and the baby are living with her parents until their house is complete.

But despite the challenges, the gratitude is eternal, Colleen said.

"The sense of relief you feel after the fact, when you’re holding your baby in your arms . . . . We’re all here. That's all that matters."

"We feel very blessed. They'e safe," Al Krupski told Patch. "We live in a great town. There's been so much outreach; it really gives us a great feeling."

Even her landlord, despite losing a home he loved, has been gracious and loving, Colleen said. "He said, 'Thank God you guys got out of there.'"

The North Fork community, too, has come together to envelop the young family in their collective arms and hearts. "It is overwhelming," Colleen said. "Everyone has been so sweet, so generous, and so eager to help and give us kind words. It's unbelievable, to take all of this in. We're just so grateful to live in this community where everyone does care so much. It's so beautiful. It shows you that we live in such a special place."

In addition to the GoFundMe, Wendy Zuhoski, owner of Wendy's Deli in Mattituck, has also kicked off a collection to help.

Colleen said she hasn't yet seen Lane, the hero who saved her family. "She's an incredible person," she said.

The experience has been "unreal," Colleen said. But the outcome, she added, "is so wonderful. I still can't wrap my mind around it. We're so lucky that she had the training and acted so quickly, to get us out of there."

Southold Town Police Chief Steve Grattan said, of Lane: "I am incredibly proud of PSD Lane for her role in rescuing a family from a house fire. Her quick thinking and selfless actions significantly changed the outcome of this potentially tragic situation. I am grateful for her dedication and commitment to service."

Krupsk said Lane is "just amazing. To act like that, her quick thinking and quick acting. She's a blessing in the community, and, of course, a blessing to us."

The supervisor also praised the fire department, who came "and did an amazing job. They leave their warm beds to come out and save people. They're amazing."

Krupski said despite the losses, the fire put everything into clear perspective. "We all have houses full of stuff, but what does that really mean?"

Lane did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

Colleen added that, thankfully, she's a light sleeper who could hear Lake's pleas to wake them.

Another invaluable help at the scene, Colleen said, was Justin Lake, an off-duty police officer who also rushed to help and stayed with the family, helping them navigate their next steps in the hours after the fire.

Colleen said she and her fiance want to send gratitude to the community. "Thank you, for being so kind and generous and thoughtful. For sending us prayers. We can really feel the love. It's overwhelming and amazing. We're very, very blessed."

According to Southold Town police, the incident took place on Wednesday night at 11::49 p.m. at a home on Main Road in Mattituck.

The Southold Town Police Department's communications division began to receive multiple 911 calls about a house on fire, police said. Among the callers was an off-duty Southold Town police public safety dispatcher, PSD1 Donna Lane. She noticed the rear of the home heavily engulfed in flames, police said.

Recognizing that the home may have been occupied and fearing that any occupants were in immediate danger, she began to repeatedly bang on the front door and windows of the home in an attempt to wake any sleeping occupants, all while maintaining contact with her fellow 911 dispatchers, police said.

After several minutes of persistent screaming and banging, Lane was able to successfully wake up Colleen.

Shortly after, responders from the Mattituck Fire Department arrived on scene and began efforts to extinguish the blaze, police said.

Firefighters from the Mattituck, Cutchogue, and Jamesport Fire Departments battled the blaze for more than 2 hours, police said. Additional support was provided by the Southold, Greenport and Riverhead Fire Departments, which provided EMS and stand-by coverage, police said.

The home sustained significant damage, police said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Suffolk County Police Department's arson squad and is not considered suspicious, police said.

"PSD Lane’s selfless actions and quick thinking prevented a major tragedy," police said.

PSD1 Donna Lane is a 18-year veteran of the Southold Town Police Department's communications division.

"Our entire family is endlessly grateful for everyone who has reached out and offered help over the past couple days," Rachael wrote in the GoFundMe.

To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.