Blaze Ravages Motel, Leaves 37 Homeless

Thirty-seven people were forced out of their apartments and left homeless Friday afternoon when a raging fire swept through the main building of the Montauk Motel on Edison Street in Montauk.

Ralph Mayer, the owner of the 24-unit motel, and the other evacuated residents, some cloaked in blankets to keep warm on a frigid day, stood by watching as smoke and flames poured out of the northwest corner of the building. Firefighters had to use a chain saw to cut huge holes in the roof Mr. Mayer had built himself.

By the time the fire was finally dous ed, three hours later, the northwest corner of the second story, just above the motel's office, was totally gutted, along with three adjacent apartments. The entire main building of the motel sustained smoke and water damage, and because of the gaping holes the roof will have to be replaced.

Mr. Mayer estimated the damage would cost $300,000 to repair.

Under Investigation

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. The East Hampton fire marshal, Tom Horn, said the probe was focusing on a chimney fire. Montauk Fire Chief Tom Grenci said he believed the fire began between floors in a stove pipe from a wood-burning stove.

Members of the Montauk Fire Department turned out in force to battle the blaze, with backup assistance from the East Hampton, Springs, and Amagansett Fire Departments.

The blaze began around 3:25 p.m. in the first unit on the second level and swiftly traveled to the three adjacent units, completely destroying all of them. Large holes in the ceilings of the lower level units caused severe smoke and water damage to the tenants' belongings.

Although the motel was equipped with numerous smoke detectors, Mr. Mayer said he had no idea what was going on until a tenant began banging on his door while he was watching television. When he went outside, heavy, black smoke was pouring out of the upper level. The north side of the building soon became engulfed in flames.

Affordable Haven

Rather than a traditional motel, the Montauk Motel is a year-round residence for some and an affordable haven for newcomers to Montauk.

After safely evacuating the building, the tenants stood across the street, watching as all their belongings went up in smoke. One resident became hysterical, which caused her to hyperventilate. The Montauk ambulance took her to Southampton Hospital, where she was treated and released.

Most of the tenants are single. Mr. Mayer provided for the only family displaced by the fire by opening up a vacant cottage on his property. To accommodate some of his older tenants, he also reopened three units in a back building that had been shut down for the winter.

Dorothy LaMay, who owns the Neptune motel next door, opened units there as well, and most of the remaining residents were able to find temporary housing on their own through friends.

Outpouring Of Aid

A huge outpouring of help from the community, including Town Supervisor Cathy Lester and members of the Town Human Services Department, has made the loss easier for the displaced tenants. Members of the Human Services Department helped provide the tenants with food from the Montauk Food Pantry. Ines Fox, a director of the food pantry, and her daughter, Anna, both of whom speak Spanish, also helped translate for the Spanish-speaking victims of the fire.

Donations of clothing and bedding poured in from the Montauk Community Church and the items were just as quickly handed out. "Everybody was incredible," said Mrs. Fox.

Announcements were made during services on Sunday by the Rev. John Best of the Montauk Community Church and the Rev. Raymond Nugent of St. Therese Catholic Church, requesting help from the congregation. Al though clothing was originally requested, it is no longer needed. Food and monetary donations can still be made to Frances Ecker or Mrs. Fox, directors of the food pantry.

Eerily Quiet

Mr. Mayer purchased the Montauk Motel in 1963. For years he renovated, adding an upper level and an additional building in the back of the complex. Mr. Mayer lives in the main building with his wife, Claire, and daughter, Jennifer, but neither was in Montauk at the time of the fire.

The motel is on a dead end road behind Lions Field. A group of cottages on the west side of the road is also owned by Mr. Mayer. Firemen were able to confine the blaze to the main building.

It was eerily quiet at the motel site the day after the fire. Shingles and pink insulation hung from holes in the charred building. Burnt bedding was piled in the front yard. The water used to douse the flames, because of the frigid weather, had become a frozen sheath around some of the tenants' possessions. In one room a set of dentures was frozen in a plastic container. Drawers were frozen shut. Micro waves, televisions, and books were strewn all over. Tenants removed whatever they could salvage.

Missing Sparrow

Mr. Mayer was searching through the debris for his pet sparrow, Peanuts, given to him by his stepdaughter, Debbie Barbarise, who months ago had caught a small boy attacking a nest of newly born sparrows. Three of the six were already dead. She packed up the other three and brought them out to Montauk. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer fed them faithfully with an eyedropper and provided an incubator. Two had died, but Peanuts survived. At press time he had not been found.

Joseph O'Connor, a resident of the motel for 16 years, summed it up for Mr. Mayer and the other inhabitants when he said, "We're survivors, we'll rebuild."