Late Wednesday Night at approximately 11:50 p.m. the Cutchogue Fire Department was requested to assist the Mattituck Fire Department at the scene of a working structure fire on the Main Rd. in Mattituck.

Police and Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and fire consuming a two-story farmhouse. Heavy fire could be seen at the rear of the home.

Southold Town Police Communications began to receive multiple 911 calls for a house on fire.

Among the callers was an Off-duty Southold Town Police, public safety dispatcher, PSD1 Donna Lane who was on her way home from work after working a 4-12 shift.

She noticed the rear of the home heavily engulfed in flames. Recognizing that the home may have been occupied and fearing that any occupants were in immediate danger, she began to repeatedly bang on the front door and windows of the home in attempt to wake any sleeping occupants, all while maintaining contact with her fellow 911 dispatchers.

After several minutes of persistent screaming and banging PSD Lane was able to successfully wake one of the occupants who in turn woke the remaining (4) family members.

All family members then exited the home that was rapidly being consumed with smoke and fire. The family of (5) in included (2) adults and (3) young children that were 7, 4, and 1 years of age.

Shortly after responders from the Mattituck Fire Department arrived on scene and began efforts to extinguish the blaze.

CFD Provided assistance by responding with a Rapid Intervention team to stand-by at the scene.

The crew made the response aboard Engine 8-5-5 and once on scene stood by in the event of any firefighter emergencies. Later in the incident the crew was reassigned to assist firefighters operating on the fireground. CFD firefighters assisted with the extensive overhaul of the home to ensure the fire was fully extinquished.

Additional mutual Aid was called in from the Jamesport, Southold, Greenport and Riverhead F.D.'s who responded to the scene or stood by covering Mattituck's district.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by Suffolk County Police Arson Squad and is not considered suspicious.

Our thoughts go out to the family involved.

The CFD would like to commend PSD Lane for her selfless efforts that helped save the lives of a family. Thank you for your dedication to our community both on and off duty!