Police

Police: 3 escape Greenport home ‘completely destroyed’ by fire

Victor Colon Jr. was one of three residents that escape the early morning house fire. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)
Victor Colon Jr. was one of three residents who escaped the early morning house fire. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

Update (3 p.m.): Donations are being accepted for the victims whose Greenport home was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

Monetary donations are being accepted by Community Action Southold Town, located at 311 Front St., between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Donations can be cash or check, payable to CAST with “Greenport Fire” written in the memo.

Donations can be made online by clicking here.

Clothing or other items can be dropped off at Village Hall, located at 236 3rd St. between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Original Story: A fire that leveled a Kaplan Avenue home in Greenport last night is under investigation by the Suffolk County Arson Squad, though police said Thursday morning that its cause does not seem suspicious.

According to police, three people escaped from the fire and were sent to Eastern Long Island Hospital to be treated for minor smoke inhalation: 51-year-old Kenneth MacAlpin, 60-year-old Margaret Richards and 43-year-old Vicor Colon, Jr.

Greenport Fire Department and other area departments responded to the scene around 12:30 a.m., police said.

“The home was completely destroyed by the fire,” according to police.

Standing outside the remains of the charred Kaplan Avenue home around 7 a.m. Thursday morning Mr. Colon, who was renting an upstairs bedroom in the home, said he lost everything in the fire, but was happy everyone got out.

He believes the fire broke out on the main floor of the home.

“I heard my landlord yell upstairs ‘get out, get out, there is a fire,'” he said. “When I opened my [bedroom] door there was so much smoke. I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t breathe.”

Mr. Colon Jr. said he managed to escape through his bedroom window to safety. He is now staying with friends and family, he said.

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