Man Saved From Burning Building After Jumping From 2nd Floor Window In Dramatic Hamptons Rescue: FD

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A man was saved after he jumped from the window of a burning building in Southampton Wednesday night, officials said.

According to Chris Brenner, public information officer for the Southampton Fire Department, the structure fire broke out at 9:21 p.m. Wednesday on North Road in Shinnecock Hills.

The chiefs responded within four minutes of the initial dispatch, Brenner said. While responding they received a message that the man was trapped and retoned it as a working fire, he said.

Southampton Town Police officers arrived first and were able to retrieve a mattress from the burning building and place it on a table, to soften the fall of the injured man who jumped from the second-floor window, Brenner said.

When officials arrived at the scene, the man had climbed out of the window and was perched on a ledge outside the house, Brenner said. Others who had been inside the residence had already evacuated the burning building, where heavy fire was seen coming from the windows, he said.

Fire department crews arrived and were able to extinguish the fire within a half hour, Brenner said. Overhaul then began and crews were on scene till about 12:30 a.m. Two police officers were sent to local hospitals with smoke inhalation and the man that was in the residence was transported to the hospital with minor burns to his feet, Brenner said.

Southampton Volunteer Ambulance, along with Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Southampton Village Volunteer Ambulance were all at the scene for firefighter assessment and transport of the injured, Brenner said.

Southampton Town fire marshals were at the scene to determine a cause. Suffolk County Fire coordinators were on scene to assist the fire chiefs, Brenner said.

North Road was closed in both directions for the duration of the fire, Brenner said.

Southampton Fire Chief Polis Walker was the chief in charge of the fire along with Assistant Chief Ricky Fowler and Assistant Chief Ken Lockhard, Jr. Chief Chris Epley was in charge of the Southampton Village Ambulance and Julio Prendergast, deputy chief, was in charge of the Southampton Volunteer Ambulance. Alek Kozuchowski and Rob Scot, assistant chiefs of the Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance, were in charge for their company.

The Hampton Bays Fire Department was on scene as a rapid intervention team, the North Sea Fire Department was requested for an engine to the scene and Bridgehampton took calls for the Southampton Fire Department, he said.

"Thank you to all the mutual aid departments and all the EMS that responded to assist," Brenner said.

Brenner commended the fire chiefs, who arrived within four minute. "They did a great job," he said.

Brenner commended police, firefighters, EMS, fire marshals and fire coordinators. "Everyone did a great job," he said. "That's what we strive for, in our training, how well these men and women did. Everyone did an amazing job."

Due to the quick efforts of fire responders, the home damaged but not a total loss, Brenner said.