'They Lost Everything': Donations Needed For 17 Displaced In LI Fire

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — The 17 people displaced in a raging Westhampton Beach fire Friday escaped with literally just the clothes on their backs. And now, they are in dire need.

"They lost everything in the fire," said Kym Laube, executive director of HUGS, Inc., who has spearheaded a collection to help the families.

Donations are being accepted at 108 C Mill Road in Westhampton Beach every day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., she said. The only exception is this Friday, when no donations will be accepted due to a conference taking place at the building that day.

Laube said the survivors need everything from kitchen supplies and utensils, clothing, food, household goods, electronics and more. "They lost everything," she said.

Those displaced, including several children, all went to different areas, but they were able to stay together with their families, Laube said.

Laube said that those wishing to donate large furniture should wait until the individuals are in their new homes; the HUGS office doesn't have the space to accommodate the furniture.

When asked why she stepped forward, Laube said: "HUGS just wants to be of service to the community. When we see a community need, we jump in and do what we can to make the situation better. That's what we are in the business of doing. We felt in this case we could step in to make a difference."

Fire raged through a building on Main Street in Westhampton Beach Friday morning, leaving residents displaced, officials said.

According to the Westhampton Beach Fire Department, the structure fire broke out at a building on Main Street at about 5:20 a.m.

Westhampton Beach Fire Department Third Assistant Chief Lewis Scott was the first at the scene, and he reported heavy interior and exterior fire on the two upper floors of the building, which contained a retail store, Tola, on the ground level and apartments on the two floors above, officials said.

All the residents had self-evacuated and that there were no injuries, Scott said.

Westhampton Beach Village Mayor Ralph Urban said a total of 17 people were evacuated from the apartments.

Urban commended the Westhampton Beach Fire Department. "It could have been much worse. The Westhampton Beach Fire Department acted quickly and efficiently and called in support, which we all depend upon. Many other departments arrived in support. It was a very well-orchestrated effort, to put it out."

Of the fact that no injuries were reported, Urban said: "It is amazing. They were on the upper floors— the fire alarms did their job."

Chief Scott was joined at the scene shortly by First Assistant Chief Larry Saccente, Second Assistant Chief Jeff Wachenfeld, and Chief Darryl Schunk, who assumed command.
Courtesy Westhampton Beach Fire DepartmentThe fire proved to be difficult to extinguish, with a number of flare-ups occurring after it was apparently put out, officials said.

Firefighters were able to confine the fire to the one building, with adjacent structures left unscathed, officials said.

There was significant water damage to the first floor retail space, but firefighters attempted to limit the damage by covering merchandise where possible, officials said. The shop's owner told Patch she was "blown away" by the damage.

There were no reported injuries and the scene was eventually turned over to the Southampton Town Fire Marshal for investigation, officials said.

The firehouse was used as a shelter for the displaced residents, who were assisted by the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management and the Red Cross.

After the fire, Chief Schunk reflected: "The crews made a great stop given the conditions they encountered. They definitely saved the adjacent buildings."

In addition to the chiefs, the department responded with two engines, a tower truck, and a fire police vehicle. Mutual aid was supplied by a number of East End departments. Center Moriches responded with a ladder truck, Quogue brought two engines, and Eastport supplied an engine. East Moriches brought a rescue truck, and East Quogue supplied an engine and a ladder truck.

Riverhead and Hampton Bays each brought an engine and the Flanders Fire Department stood standby at the Westhampton headquarters until they were relieved by the Southampton Fire Department, at which time they brought their engine to the scene. Quogue and Eastport sent fire police.

The Westhampton Beach Fire Department’s fire police closed Main Street from Sunset Avenue to Mill Road while firefighters battled the blaze.

They were assisted by the Westhampton Beach Village Police Department, the Westhampton Dunes constable, and the New York State Police. The Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance was on scene with an ambulance, as were East Moriches Ambulance and East Quogue Ambulance. Shirley EMS responded with their rehab unit.