Quick Stop on House Fire in Northwest Woods Thursday

East Hampton firefighters quickly knocked down a fire at a house under renovation on Hedges Banks Drive, in the Landfall section of Northwest Woods, Thursday morning. 

Chief Gerard Turza Jr. said his department received a report of smoke in the residence from workers at 29 Hedges Banks Drive at 8:54 a.m. He was the first fire officer to arrive and found heavy smoke and "fire venting from the roof," he said later. 

The fire began in the living room, near a fireplace, Chief Turza said. The living room has cathedral ceilings — 18 to 20 feet high — and the smoke had risen to the second floor, where some bedrooms were located, he said. 

Firefighters began what he described as an "aggressive interior and exterior attack" and put out the fire within 15 minutes of the first firefighters arriving at the house. They remained on scene until 11 a.m. to conduct "an extensive overhaul as the house was undergoing various stages of renovation work." 

The East Hampton Town fire marshal's office is investigating the exact cause and whether the renovations were being done legally. Chief Turza would not comment further. 

The damage was contained to half of the house, Chief Turza said, though there was extensive damage to the roof and living room area. 

When Chief Turza arrived at the fire and saw the heavy smoke, he immediately requested assistance from the Sag Harbor Fire Department's rapid intervention team, which is used to rescue interior firefighters should they encounter a problem. However, because of how quickly East Hampton firefighters got to work, the Sag Harbor firefighters were called off en route. The Springs Fire Department stood by at the East Hampton Firehouse in case the East Hampton department received any other calls. 

The East Hampton Village Ambulance Association also responded to medically monitor firefighters who went into the house. No injuries were reported. 

Roughly 75 firefighters responded. 

Tracey Lee Stein is listed as the homeowner on tax records.