'Thank you': Neighbors thank Hero firefighters for saving their home

SOUTHOLD, NY — A house was destroyed by flames in a fire in Southold early Sunday, officials said. And now, a grateful couple who live next to where the fire broke out are thanking the hero firefighters who saved their home.

The fire broke out at the home on Goose Creek Lane Extension at 3:32 a.m., according to fire officials. The home was empty and no injuries were reported, officials said.

The massive blaze took nearly four hours to extinguish, with firefighters still on the scene as of 8:10 a.m., officials said. The house was engulfed in flames, “with only one wall still standing,” an official said.

The Southold Fire Department was assisted by the Greenport, Mattituck, East Marion and Cutchogue fire departments.

Kathy and Tom Maher own the house next to where the fire broke out. “The firefighters saved my house on Goose Creek Lane, and probably others. The house that was completely burned is only 20 feet from our door,” Kathy said.

Tom Maher said he was awakened at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday by “what sounded like an explosion. I immediately went to my bedroom window and the house next door was on fire. The fire seemed to be moving from the back of the house to I got dressed quickly and I called 911 at 3:32 a.m. while I was leaving my house.”

The flames, he said, were about 20 feet away from their home. “I could feel the heat through my windows and hear the fire,” Tom said.

He added: “I was shocked by the fire — how close it was and how fast it was moving. When I pulled into my driveway, the house was almost completely wrapped. There were no cars in the neighbour's driveway and the house had been dark all day so I knew no one was home which was a relief, I was sure he would jump into my house and I would see my house burning down too.'

By the time Tom left the house, fire crews had already started arriving in their personal vehicles. Southold police were also there, he said – and an officer asked if there was anyone or any pets at his home – and if he had seen anyone around.

“Within minutes of leaving the house, the fire department and police were on the scene. The pumpers arrived shortly after and began stretching the hoses. Goose Creek is a long, unpaved road with no hydrants, so its crews firefighters had to run hoses several thousand feet to N. Bayview for water While it was clear the burning house was unsalvageable, I heard one of the firefighters direct a crew to continue dousing the house with water to “save this property.” While they continued to fight the fire, they were able to extinguish the fire after several hours of continuous work and save our home.

Kathy was in the couple's other home when the fire started. She told Patch how she felt about taking the call from her husband.

“No one calls at 3:30 a.m. with good news, so I knew something was wrong before I answered. I don't scare easily — and I didn't because as long as my husband Tom was out of danger, everything is fine. Relationships with family and friends matter — material things can be replaced.”

When the fire died down and only ash remained, the Mahers reflected on the deep dedication of first responders. “I thought about how incredibly brave firefighters are and how they risk their lives to keep the community safe. It's hard to put into words how important and selfless their actions are,” Kathy said.

The next day, the couple decided to send food from Biggie's as a “thank you” for the firefighters' incredible heroism.

“It was just a small gesture to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication,” Tom said.

Firefighters, Kathy said, doused the side of their house facing the fire, as well as the roof. “My husband is sure the fire would have hit our house and more if it wasn't for the quick thinking and great work of the volunteers,” she said.

Looking back on the night, Tom said he knew some of the fire and police personnel who rushed to the scene. “But the vast majority were foreigners,” he said. “Having the dedication to leave your homes and families at 3:30 on a Sunday morning to fight a raging fire on a long dirt road for people you don't even know is truly incredible. That they do it as volunteers makes it even more so.”

The couple added: “We are grateful and truly appreciate their dedication and service. The damage could have been astronomical if the fire had spread to our home and beyond.”

Although the blaze was fierce, so was the heroism shared by all the firefighters who turned out in force. Knowing that volunteers are willing to serve so selflessly, the Mahers said, “feels safe. We are lucky to have courageous people running into danger to save people's homes and lives.”

They added: “The people who run at night to put out fires represent the best of us. There's a quote that says, 'You are what you do, not what you say you're going to do.' We know who these people are by what they do.” — protect the rest of us from the rest of us, they deserve recognition and appreciation for how they respond to our calls for help.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, officials said.