1 Person Badly Burned During Series Of Explosions In Hampton Bays: Police

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — One person was badly injured after a series of explosions in Hampton Bays Wednesday, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, at about 6:30 p.m., a call came in regarding a fire in the vicinity of West Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays. A preliminary investigation revealed that someone had attempted to start an ATV, which had been stored in a storage container at the location, police said.

Police said it appeared that some sort of flammable environment had been created in the storage container, which was ignited when the ATV ignition was activated, police said. Additionally, several propane tanks, which were located in the surrounding area, also began to explode, police said.

The Hampton Bays Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze with assistance from the Flanders, Southampton and East Quogue Fire Departments, police said. Montauk Highway, west of New York State Route 24, was closed for a period of time, police said.

One person, whose name has not yet been released, suffered significant burns and was transported to Red Creek Park by Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance Corps; he was subsequently airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center by the Suffolk County Police aviation unit ,where he remains in serious condition, police said.

The fire then reignited sometime in the early morning hours Thursday, police said. The Hampton Bays Fire Department responded and extinguished the flames again, police said.