Firefighters Save East Hampton House After Walk-In Pantry Erupts in Flames

East Hampton firefighters put a quick stop to a basement fire at a mansion in the village on Monday night, Chief Tom Bono said on Tuesday.

"The guys did an awesome job. They knocked it down quick," he said.

A fire broke out in a walk-in pantry in a finished basement at 43 East Dune Lane, while residents were there. They called 911 just before 11 p.m.

"When we got there the room in the basement was fully involved," Bono said, adding that he called Sag Harbor and Amagansett Fire Department's Rapid Intervention Teams, in case firefighters needed to be rescued or more manpower was required. "But we were able to knock it down and contain the fire right in that one room" within 10 to 15 minutes, he said.

Everyone was out of the house when firefighters arrived and no one was hurt fighting the blaze.

In addition to the damage the fire did in the basement, the first floor also sustained some smoke damage, he said.

Firefighters were on scene for several hours despite quickly putting out the fire. Firefighters sifted through rubble and checked behind walls to make sure there were no pockets of fire. They also waited about an hour while fire marshals investigated the cause of the fire, before they soaked down the room the fire started in with water to ensure the fire didn't rekindle.

East Hampton Town fire marshals are investigating, though the house is located in the Village of East Hampton, Bono said.

Also, the Springs Fire Department stood-by at East Hampton's fire department headquarters.

In total, about 65 to 80 to firefighters responded to the fire. No body was injured, but Bono said there was a concern firefighters would overheat. "It was hot and muggy. We made sure to keep them hydrated."