01' News Archives
Structure Fire
11-22-2001 News Review
The Riverhead Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Old Quogue Road in Riverside Saturday morning. There was heavy smoke when firefighters arrived and the fire extended from a bedroom to the attic of the home, according to Riverhead Fire Chief Frank Darrow.
The building sustained heavy damage, but there were no injuries to civilians or fire fighters, and no damage to adjacent buildings, according to the chief. Sixty firefighters responded with four engines, two ladder trucks and six support vehicles.
The investigation was turned over to the Southampton Town fire marshal's office, according to Chief Darrow.
One Injury in Tuesday Fire
11-15-2001 News Review
A mobile home sustained moderate damage and its occupant was treated for smoke inhalation following a fire a MacLeod's Mobile Home Park on Riverleigh Avenue Tuesday afternoon, according to Riverhead Fire Chief Frank Darrow.
The alarm was called in about 4:06 p.m. and officials say the fire was located in the ductwork under the mobile home. Moderate fire damage and heavy smoke damage were reported, according to Chief Darrow.
An unidentified occupant of the mobile home was transported to Central Suffolk Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. There were no reported injuries to firefighters, according to the chief. Between 45 and 50 volunteers responded, along with four engines, one tanker and five support vehicles.
The investigation has been turned over to the Southampton Town fire marshal's office.
Riverhead Firefighters raise $15,000.00 for FDNY
by Raymond Kwasna 11-03-2001
On Saturday November 3rd the Volunteers of the Riverhead Fire Department hosted a fund raising dinner and raised $15,000.00 for the New York City Fire Departments Widows and Orphans Fund.A complete dinner featuring barbecued Steak and Shrimp was served at two seatings, 4pm and 7pm. This delicious meal was followed by numerous choices of desserts and coffee.
The highlight of the evening had to be the pipe and drum concert at the meals conclusion. With three bagpipe players and one drummer going through a set including "Amazing Grace" and "Oh Danny Boy" many near-tear eyes were to be seen in the room.
The Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department thanks everyone that helped in so many ways to make this fundraiser a success.
Please support the following contributors:
A Cut Above Haircutters, Apple Chevrolet Dealers, Applebees Restaurant, Henry Ashby, Ashford Photo, Bagel Lovers Deli, Bidwell Winery, Billie Friszolowski, Birchwood Restaurant, Briermere Farms, Calree Company Inc., Calverton Fuel Oil, Calverton Links, Carlo's Pizzeria, Carl's Equipment, Carol Carey, Charlene Bloss Skin Care, CK's Delicatessen, Cotton Patch Florist, Cooperage Inn Restaurant, Country Heirloom, Crystal Garden Chinese Buffet, Curious Sisters, Dari-Land Ice Cream, Dennis Hamill, Digger O'Dells Restaurant, Doc's Tavern, East End Asphalt, Eastern Harley-Davidson, Farm Country, Gallo's Seafood, Gennaro Tuxedos, Andrea Giarraputo, Giorgio's Restaurant, Goodale-Warner Farms, Gutter Protection of Suffolk, Guys & Dolls Haircutters, Homeside Florist, Island Treasures, Jen's Flower Shop, Jewelry Clinic, Jiffy Lube, Katie's Delicatessen, Kountry Kutters, Landscape Adventure, Leather Classics, Lenny's Pizzeria, Lighthouse Marine Supply, Long Island Ice & Fuel, The Lucano Family, Maple Tree Delicatessen, Martha Clara Vineyards, Maximum Graphics, Meeting House Creek Inn, Mendenhall Fuel, Michael's Liquors, Middle Road Plantations, Richard Miller, Modern Snack Bar, Ocean Fancy Seafood Restaurant, Out East Family Fun Center, Palmer's Vineyards, Paul's Cleaners, Peconic Paddler, Peconic River Cruises, Joseph Pelis, Polish Town Delicatessen, Produce Warehouse, Pro-Vision Eye Care, Rainbow Advertising - Cablevision, Nancy Raynor, John & Barbara Reichel, RFD Board of Fire Commissioners, RFD Ladies Auxiliary, Riverhead Toyota, The Record - Bergin County - NJ, Relay Communications, Rendezvous Restaurant, Riverhead Building Supply, Riverhead Central School District, Riverhead Highway Department, Roanoke Plaza Liquors, Rubin Brothers, Scotto's Italian Pork Store, Scotty's D&E Tires, Sherwin-Williams Paint, Smith & Barney, Snowflake Ice Cream, Solar Salon, Splish - Splash Waterpark, Suffolk County National Bank, Toys-R-Us Toy Store, Tweeds Restaurant, Village Delicatessen, Vovodja's Cleaners, Wal-Mart Corporation, Wedel Signs and all of our terrific dinner guests!
Thanks to all once again!
Trailer Fire
11-01-2001 News Review
An unoccupied trailer burned down on Pine Street in Riverside Saturday in what police are labeling fourth-degree arson.
Police say an unknown person or persons started the fire in and around the trailer, and that the blaze quickly destroyed it. A witness heard a man and woman arguing near the trailer prior to the fire, according to police.
The trailer was fully involved in flames when Riverhead Fire Department volunteers arrived, according to fire Chief Frank Darrow, who said 45 department members responded to the 1:49 a.m. call.
School Bus Crash Investigation
by Pat Burson 10-28-2001 Newsday
Riverhead Town police are investigating a Friday afternoon school bus accident in Aquebogue in which the driver and six Mattituck High School students on board were injured.
Shortly after 3 p.m., members of the Riverhead Police Department, Riverhead Fire Department, Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corp., Mattituck Fire Department Rescue Squad and Flanders-Northampton Ambulance Co. responded to the bus accident on Route 25, east of Linda Lane in Aquebogue. Police said Frank Kujawski, 55, of Mattituck, was driving the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District minibus eastbound on Route 25 when he apparently lost control of the vehicle, striking a tree and fire hydrant on the south side of the road.
Witnesses told authorities the students escaped through the bus's rear emergency exit. But rescue workers had to remove Kujawski from the damaged vehicle, Riverhead Police Det. Michael Reed said.
The students were taken to Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead, he said, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released. Kujawski was admitted with undisclosed injuries. A hospital spokeswoman said he was in good condition yesterday.
Riverhead police impounded the school bus for a routine safety inspection, but no arrests or charges had been filed yesterday.
"From witnesses' statements, it looks like it was not the driver's fault," Reed said. "Pending a safety inspection of the bus, it looks like it's going to be a mechanical failure."
Container Fire
09-20-2001 News Review
The Riverhead Fire Department responded to a fire in a tractor trailer container on the side of the former Tire Craft building at Peconic Avenue and Route 24 in Riverside Friday morning at about 4:11 a.m.
The container was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, according to Chief Frank Darrow. The container and its contents were destroyed, but the building was not damaged. The owner of the container is not known, and the Southampton Town Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the blaze. Chief Darrow said 60 firefighters responded to the blaze.
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Age Restriction is Removed
08-21-2001
On Tuesday night, the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Riverhead Fire District adopted a resolution to remove the 40 year age restriction on new department applicants.
Before this change, anyone over the age limit was allowed to deduct prior years of firefighting service from their age, anyone over the age limit without prior service was out of luck.
Now all an applicant needs is to be at least 21 years of age, pass a complete physical, a background check and then qualify for interior firefighter status to become a member.
Two Structure Fires
08-09-2001 News Review
The Riverhead Fire Department responded to two structure fires last week.
A home on Wooded Way in the Calverton Hills apartment complex sustained moderate fire damage and heavy smoke damage to a bedroom Monday morning at about 6 a.m., according to Fire Chief Frank Darrow. No civilians were injured, but a firefighter did suffer a back injury from a fall while fighting the blaze, according to Chief Darrow.
A mobile home at the Forge Road mobile home park in Calverton sustained heavy damage in a fire Tuesday. The front of the home was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived, and fire was extending from the windows as well, according to Chief Darrow. There were no injuries.
Both fires are being investigated by the Suffolk County Arson Squad. The Riverhead Town Police detective division also is investigating the Forge Road fire, the chief said.
Lightning Sparks Fires
05-31-2001 News Review
Mother Nature showed who's boss early Friday morning, as lightning struck two houses here, heavily damaging one of them. The strikes came amidst a torrential thunder and lightning storm in the early morning hours. "It was a heck of a night," said Riverhead Town fire marshal Bruce Johnson.
The first lightning strike came at about 4:16 a.m. and hit a house on Mill Road owned by Frank Macksel. While Mr. Macksel was not injured, the blast caused what Riverhead Fire Chief Frank Darrow called "moderate" damage to the home. There was damage to the interior walls and windows of the home, as well as extensive damage to the home's electrical system.
"It sounded like a bomb," Tippi Macksel, Mr. Macksel's wife, said of the blast. The blast also knocked some shingles off the house and blew two windows out of a bedroom window frame, said Mr. Johnson. "It's very scary what lightning can do," he said.
The second strike came at about 5:25 a.m. and struck an under-construction condominium in the new Saddle Lakes development on Middle Road. This fire caused heavy damage to the home, with fire breaking though the roof when fire fighters arrived, according to Chief Darrow. The unoccupied home was in one of the last phases of construction when it caught fire. "The most probable cause is a lightning strike," Mr. Johnson said. "There's too much damage to tell exactly where it hit."
The fire was called in by a resident of the nearby John Wesley Village apartments, but it was fully involved by the time fire department volunteers arrived, Mr. Johnson said. Still, it could've been worse, as the unit was one of two attached condominiums. The other sustained minimal damage. Its vinyl siding melted, but it was not destroyed. "The Riverhead Fire Department did a good job containing it," Mr. Johnson said.
The fire department responded with 60 members for the first alarm and 75 members for the second alarm, according to Chief Darrow.