Fire trapped an elderly woman in a house on Bellows Lane in Southampton Village Thursday afternoon — but firefighters pulled her out.
A Stop & Shop Peapod delivery truck driver called in the fire. Southampton Fire Chief Rodney “Chip” Pierson said that the call came around 5:30 p.m., and he arrived within two minutes, coming from his daughter's field hockey game at Southampton High School nearby. The first firefighters on scene were not able to get to the woman immediately because of smoke and fire, Pierson said, but when more equipment arrived firefighters put on breathing apparatus and saved her.
The victim was transported via ambulance to Southampton Hospital, and two firefighters were taken to the hospital due to carbon monoxide inhalation, the chief said. About half a dozen firefighters, including Pierson, were treated on the scene.
Pierson said that when he arrived the fire was well under way, and shortly after he got there it became "fully involved."
Around 6:15, the fire was under control but there were still flames on the roof. Pierson said that there would be many "hotspots" that firefighters need to root out. The house was severely damaged, if not a total loss.
Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance, Southampton Volunteer Ambulance and Bridgehampton Fire Department Ambulance Company responded. In addition to 60 Southampton firefighters who responded to the scene, Sag Harbor Fire Department sent a rapid intervention team, North Sea Fire Department stood by at the Southampton firehouse on Hampton Road, and Hampton Bays Fire Department was also called on.
“This kind of call, when you have victim within, really gets the guys out fast,” Pierson said.