Springs Fireplace Garage Fire Sparked During Hot Work

A fire gutted CMG Auto Repairs on Springs Fireplace Road in East Hampton last Wednesday morning, September 17.

Firefighters from the East Hampton, Amagansett and Springs fire departments responded, while the Sag Harbor Fire Department waited on standby as the rapid intervention team, in the event of an injured firefighter, according to East Hampton Fire Chief Duane Forrester.

Forrester reported no injuries.

The East Hampton Fire Department got the call shortly before 10 a.m. Initially, the call was for a vehicle fire in the building. When the fire department arrived, Forrester said, the building was fully enveloped in flames. The firefighters successfully contained the fire to the one building.

“Everyone got it knocked down pretty quickly,” he said.

To put out the fire, the firefighters used a deck gun, which is a large nozzle that the department uses to get large quantities of water into an area. As they battled the blaze, the firefighters stayed on the exterior until they could see inside the building. This ensured there were no signs of imminent collapse from the building’s trusses.

While at the scene, a power line fell. PSEG came out to the building to disconnect it.

“It was precariously perched above our supply lines, so we had to keep an eye on that to make sure it didn’t drop on our supply lines,” Forrester said.

Forrester said the department knocked down the bulk of the fire fairly quickly. At 12:10 p.m., the fire department cleared the area.

While Forrester reported no injuries, he said there was a vehicle inside the shop that was damaged heavily. The building itself was enveloped in flames, and two vehicles in the parking lot sustained damage.

The garage fire broke out while mechanics were doing hot work on a vehicle rested on a car lift inside the repair bay.

According to East Hampton Town Fire Marshal David Browne, the van caught fire and became fully engulfed in flames. That fire spread to the garage. However, a partition prevented the fire from spreading throughout the entirety of the surrounding building.

“That, along with the quick response of the EHFD, and responding mutual aid departments, knocked the intense flames down and protected against further loss,” he said. “The building’s truss roof construction was severely damaged which compromises the integrity of the entire structure.”