Sunday Afternoon Brush Fire & Man Rescued From New Suffolk Harbor

On Sunday afternoon the Cutchogue Fire Department was activated by the Southold Town Police for a reported brush fire on to the rear of a residence on Vanston Rd. in Nassau Point. While responding, chiefs were advised that there were numerous 911 calls of a fire near the beach that could be seen by boaters. Units arrived to find a 50 x 50' section of brush rapidly burning at the lower part of a bluff. Because of the limited access to the area firefighters utilized the Department's Brush truck 8-5-12 to access the area through a small trail, and additionally called in CFD fireboat 8-5-10 to stand by near the beach in the event the crews needed an additional water supply. Once on scene crews quickly contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to a nearby gazebo.

Shortly after being released from the brush fire, CFD boat 8-5-10 would be called into action again. While tying up the boat at its dock in New Suffolk, firefighters heard a loud voice calling for help. Looking off shore, firefighters could see an overturned kayak with a person in the water who was in distress calling for help. The boat got quickly underway and responded immediately to render assistance. Crew members quickly pulled the gentleman on board to safety. Good Samaritans from Captain Marty's Fishing Station, who witnessed the event, quickly responded with a small boat and assisted the gentleman's small daughter who was quickly drifting away in her kayak. The gentleman had been attempting to assist his daughter who was having trouble paddling, when he had overturned his kayak in panic. All victims were transported to the New Suffolk Boat Ramp for evaluation by EMS. Thanks to the quick actions by the firefighters, Phil Loria and Scott Magnum of Captain Marty's, all victims were released with no injuries at the scene.

CFD would respond to two more calls on Sunday. Volunteers responded to an EMS call for a reported unconscious person on Oregon Road at 4 pm. and a Carbon Monoxide Alarm at 10 p.m. bringing the total calls for the day to 4.