A cabin at on Montauk Highway in Wainscott was engulfed in flames Friday night, resulting in the death of one person, according to .
According to Police Chief Ed Ecker, the stepson of the occupant - whose name was not released - arrived at the home to find the house in flames, and called 911. The fire department was dispatched at about 6:15 p.m.
Ecker declined to specify if the victim was a man or woman, pending verification from medical examiners.
Suffolk County Arson and Homicide were also called to the scene of the fire, though no foul play was suspected.
East Hampton Town Detectives were on scene as of 7:15 p.m. investigating the scene of the incident.
According to Chief Tim Doran, 40 personnel responded with three pieces of apparatus (a portion of Wainscott is in the Bridgehampton Fire District). The fire was knocked down in 15 minutes, however witnesses said it was raging at its peak.
First Assistant Chief Gary Horsburgh was first to arrive on scene, at 6:19 p.m., and the cabin ws engulfed in flames by then.
"When I came around the corner ... I could see the flames through the trees," Doran said. The department was unable to enter the building to the magnitude of the fire. "It was not an option," Doran said. "We would've just added to the body count."
Ecker said the fire department handled the fire well, considering its strength and the fact that the structure is still standing. While Doran reported that vinyl siding had melted on a neighboring cabin, that was the extent of the fire. Cozy Cabins offers cottages for long-term rent.
Montauk Highway was closed in both directions in Wainscott, starting at Sayre's Path Road in Wainscott to the west and Wainscott-Northwest Road to the east, though reopened at 7:30.
The cabin, No. 11, was located on the east side of the entrance.
Stay tuned with East Hampton Patch as more details emerge.
