UPDATE: Fire At Creeks Estate In East Hampton Began In Attic

UPDATE: Saturday, 11 a.m.

The fire that originated in the attic at the Creeks estate main house was extinguished and brought under control by firefighters around midnight on Saturday.

The blaze, which was called in at 9:54 p.m. on Friday by an alarm company, caused extensive damage to the attic, roof and surrounding areas according to East Hampton Village Police Chief Mike Tracey.

“The attic was pretty much destroyed,” he said Saturday morning.

East Hampton Fire Department chiefs and East Hampton Village Police Detective Sergeant Greg Brown were among the first responding officers on the scene. When they arrived, the fire was burning through the roof in the back of the house.

According to Det. Sgt. Brown, two aggressive interior attacks were attempted but firefighters were ordered out of the building due to the collapse of a center portion of the roof.

Ladder trucks were used to put out flames, which were seen burning through the roof around 11 p.m. About an hour later, firefighters began locating and extinguishing hot spots on the floor of the roof.

According to Det. Sgt. Brown, there was extensive fire damage to the attic, or third floor, and major smoke and water damage to the first and second floors.

More than 100 fire and police officials responded to the scene, including fire departments from Sag Harbor, Montauk, East Hampton, Amagansett, Southampton and Springs.

“They did a nice job and saved it from being a total loss,” Chief Tracey said. “It was a total team effort. It was really something. “

No injuries were reported, Chief Tracey said, noting that some parts of the house were not damaged by the blaze. Billionaire homeowner Ronald Perelman was not home and the residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire, the chief said. Mr. Perelman’s security staff were on the property and told first responders how to access the attic.

"Thankfully, Ronald, Anna and the rest of the family were not at the house at the time and there were no injuries to any staff who were on the property," Josh Vlasto, a spokesman for Mr. Perelman, said. "The cause of the fire is still being investigated. On behalf of Ronald and Anna, we want to thank all the brave local firefighters and police for their extraordinary response."

The damage to Mr. Perelman’s extensive collection of art was unknown on Saturday morning. Det. Sgt. Brown said that first responders attempted to salvage all property, but did not comment on damage sustained to the art collection.

Montauk Highway was closed for several hours between Stephen Hands Path and Wainscott-Northwest Road, according to Det. Sgt. Brown.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire officials and code enforcement officers are expected to return to the charred attic Saturday afternoon to survey the damage, Chief Tracey noted.

Det, Sgt. Brown said that the fire did not appear to be suspicious.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A fire broke out around 10 p.m. on Friday night at the famous Creeks estate on Georgica Pond in East Hampton, the 58-acre spread owned by the billionaire Ronald Perelman and formerly by the artist Alfonso Ossorio.

According to fire officials, the blaze originated in the attic at the main house. Flames were seen burning though the roof around 11 p.m.

Firefighters from East Hampton, Montauk, Amagansett and Springs were among those that responded to the working structure fire. Suffolk County fire coordinators were also on the scene.

“It’s pretty bad,” a foreman on the scene said shortly after 11 p.m. The fire is still “working.”

By 11:30 p.m. firefighters reported “negative visible fire on the back of the house.”

Police shut down Montauk Highway between Stephen Hand’s Path and Wainscott-Northwest Road.

Further information was not immediately available.