Wading River Fire Department was called to an industrial type building on North Country Rd. at around 8:30pm Thursday night after multiple reports of a fire in a commercial building.
Upon arrival units were met with fire, being pushed by heavy winds from the north, in the commercial building. The fire quickly consumed contents of the building and then made it’s way through the roof, making the fire too unsafe to fight from the inside. Multiple area fire departments and EMS companies were called to the scene to assist.
At one point the combination of rain and winds kept the smoke low to the ground and enveloped nearby homes. Riverhead Police and firefighters evacuated those homes for the safety of the residents.
Firefighters spent hours dumping water onto the fire and working to remove the heavy roll down doors to gain better access. Heavy machinery could be seen still parked inside the building and on fire.
The Town of Riverhead Fire Marshal’s Office will work to determine the cause of the fire. It appears at first glance the building, and businesses inside, are a total loss.
