UPDATE: Fire Badly Damages Barn

Update, 4 p.m.: The fire marshal is investigating what caused a fire that badly damaged a large barn used for a garage and office for J & R Landscaping on Long Lane in East Hampton on Thursday afternoon, according to East Hampton Fire Department Chief Tom Bono.

A firefighter driving down the long stretch of road, about one mile from East Hampton High School, spotted the smoke coming from behind the hedges at 168 Long Lane, Bono said. The firefighter went onto the property, saw the barn was ablaze and called 911. The fire department got the call at 1:04 p.m.

No one else was on premises at the time, Bono said.

Bono said when he arrived on scene soon after, "Fire was coming out of the front of the building and making its way up to to the second floor."

He called for help from the Amagansett Fire Department and Sag Harbor Fire Department's Rapid Intervention Team. The Springs Fire Department stood by at East Hampton's headquarters.

Firefighters were on scene for nearly three hours, spending two of those hours fighting flames that went through the roof. Bono said that the fire was difficult to get to, but once they did, they were able to knock it down quickly. The flames reached the attic and firefighters had a difficult time reaching it due to plants around the building, he said. "We couldn't work on the other sides of the building, only on the front," he added.

East Hampton's ladder truck was used to shoot water from the tower. It took some time to hook up the hose, as firefighters had to lay nearly 3,000 feet of hose to reach the nearest hydrant, Bono said.

The fire and water damage left a gaping hole in the roof. "It's still standing, but it's badly damaged. The fire was going pretty good when we got here," he said.

The East Hampton Village Ambulance Association made sure firefighters stayed hydrated and as cool as possible. Bono said that a few firefighters had to unbutton their jackets and get checked out by EMS, but that no one was transported to the hospital.

No one was injured, he said.

Bono said there were tractors and other landscaping equipment in the garage space and an office on the second floor. He said he didn't see anything in particular that he thought exasperated the fire. He said the East Hampton Town Fire Marshal's office is on scene investigating what caused the blaze.

The business owners declined to let the media on the property.

Update, 3:20 p.m.: The fire has been knocked down and firefighters are breaking down. The barn appears to be on the property of J and R Landscaping.

Update, 2:35 p.m.: The fire burned a hole through the roof of the barn, and fire crews are still working to extinguish the fire as flames shoot through the roof.

Original story: The East Hampton Fire Department is fighting a fire that broke out in a barn at 168 Long Ln. in East Hampton on Thursday afternoon.

A barn, near the intersection of Stephen Hands Path, was reportedly fully engulfed in flames. The fire department has been on scene since at least 1:30 p.m. Long Lane is closed at Stephen Hands Path.

The fire department called for assistance from the Sag Harbor, Amagansett and Springs Fire Departments.

While the fire broke out less than a mile north of the high school, no evacuations or emergencies were reported, according to school officials. Though it was not immediately clear if detours or delays would impact transportation.

Check back for more information when it becomes available.