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Cutchogue Fire Chief’s vehicle destroyed by fire

Cutchogue Fire Department Chief Bill Brewer’s department vehicle caught fire in the driveway of his Cutchogue home Saturday morning. 

Mr. Brewer was not home at the time and there were no injuries, according to 1st Assistant Chief Larry Behr.

The vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, appeared to be destroyed by the engine fire. The vehicle was not operating when the fire started, Mr. Behr said.

“His kids were home and they looked out and the thing was on fire,” Mr. Behr said. The car hasn’t been driven since Friday, he added.

Southold Town police said the cause of the fire does not appear suspicious. Mr. Behr said the vehicle was “brand new,” but did not specify the vehicle’s year.

Police responded to the scene at about 10:30 a.m. and the fire was already too big to contain with a fire extinguisher. The Cutchogue Fire Department responded to the house at Silver Colt Road off Route 48 and quickly put out the flames, which were mostly contained to the front of the vehicle.

The exact cause of the fire was not immediately clear, but the fire crews speculated it could have been electrical.

Correction: A quote originally said that Mr. Brewer’s wife was home at the time. She was in fact traveling home at the time with Mr. Brewer. Their children were at home with their grandmother.

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The vehicle caught fire while in the chief's driveway Saturday morning. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)
The vehicle caught fire while in the chief’s driveway Saturday morning. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)
Cutchogue firefighters responded to the scene Saturday where their chiefs' vehicle caught fire. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)
Cutchogue firefighters responded to the scene Saturday where their chiefs’ vehicle caught fire. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)