According to Southampton Fire Department Public Information Officer Chris Brenner, Chief Manny Escobar said Nikko, the family's dog, was reported to be in the home — but no fire officials ever found him. And, as of Sunday, Escobar said Nikko was still officially missing.
Lt. Todd Spencer, public information officer for Southampton Police, also said a dog was reported to be at the residence. “However, no one saw him escape” and the dog was not found inside the home, he said. “It's unknown if the dog was actually inside,” he said.
A police report on the fire said that while attempts were made to get inside and rescue the dog, those efforts were unsuccessful.
Nico, Brenner said, “could have escaped.” He added that while the scenario was bleak because Nikos has yet to be found, there remained a “slight” glimmer of hope.
A relative of the family, whose home was lost, contacted Pats: “Nikos was 17 years old and with age he became blind and deaf,” he said. “Unfortunately, he probably didn't have the instinct to react given his age and disabilities.”
He sent his photo to share, “in the hope that there is the slightest chance of a miracle.”
Nikko, she said, “was part of a loving, caring, caring family — that's probably why he made it to 17. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.”
According to Brenner, the fire broke out at 2:43 p.m. at a home on Farmstead Lane off Blank Lane.
The family that lives in the house was not home. a neighbor called out the fire, Brenner said.
“It was reported that there was a dog inside,” he said. “Since Sunday, no dog had been found.”
North Sea, Bridgehampton, Hampton Bays, Sag Harbor, East Hampton and East Quogue fire departments responded to the scene. Southampton Volunteer Ambulance and Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance also responded to evaluate the firefighters, he said.
One firefighter was taken to the hospital with heat exhaustion, Brenner said. Southampton Fire Chief Escobar was in charge of the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
