New Details Emerge On Massive Barn Fire At Iconic Riverhead Farm; Chickens, Pigs Killed

RIVERHEAD, NY — A raging fire ripped through a barn on the iconic Wells Farm in Riverhead Wednesday night.

According to Riverhead Town police, at 4:55 p.m., officers responded to a report of a possible structure fire at Wells Farm, located at 4976 Sound Avenue, in Northville.

Upon the arrival, Riverhead patrol officers found that a large portion of the structure was fully engulfed.

Members of the Wells family told police that part of the structure housed a number of farm animals and with their assistance, uniformed officers entered the structure and were able to remove a number of animals to safety, officials said.

The Riverhead Fire Department responded to the scene and due to the size of the fire, they requested assistance from several area departments including the Jamesport Fire Department, Flanders Fire Department, Mattituck Fire Department, Cutchogue Fire Department, Wading River Fire Department, Hampton Bays Fire Department and Eastport Fire Department.

Ridge Fire Department performed standby at the Riverhead Fire House and several of the departments also sent ambulance personnel to the scene.

The Riverhead Fire Marshals Office responded to the scene as well as the Riverhead Police Department's detective division and the Suffolk County Police Department's arson section to conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Sound Avenue remained closed in the area for several hours while fire personnel worked to extinguish the fire. Due to the amount of water that was used to extinguish the fire, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation responded to the scene to monitor water runoff.

A police officer and two civilians were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and subsequently transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for further treatment, police said.

The structure sustained extensive damage and a number of animals, which included two pigs and 15 chickens, perished in the fire, police said.

Humane Long Island responded to the scene to monitor the condition of the animals that survived the fire.

"We just left the scene of a massive barn fire at our neighbor Wells Farm, right down the road from our sanctuary," Humane Long Island wrote on Facebook, adding that some animals had died, others were "suffering from burns, lacerations, and smoke inhalation."

Humane Long Island offered to find homes for any animals that survive, donating animals to a nearby sanctuary.

"Our hearts go out to the animals, the Wells, and everyone affected by this tragedy. Thank you to the brave firefighters who administered oxygen to one of the pigs and who are battling this blaze," they wrote.

The fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature at this time, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard, nine fire departments responded, Hubbard said. The Wells family was unhurt in the blaze.

Sound Avenue was closed between West Lane and Church Lane due to the blaze; heavy traffic was reported on Main Road, as well. Motorists were asked to use an alternate route.