Fire damages storage building at Braun Seafood in Cutchogue; market reopens before noon

A fire erupted at around 3 a.m. in a rear storage building at Braun Seafood Co. in Cutchogue Wednesday. Firefighters from departments across the North Fork were continuing to pump water on it as of 6 a.m.

Braun Seafood owner Ken Homan said the fire destroyed a portion of a building that houses a large freezer for seafood storage. By 6 a.m. the roof of the building had completely collapsed.

Cody Homan, the owner’s son, said the freezer is where the company keeps “so much of what we sell all summer.”

“But we will open as soon as possible,” he continued, adding that the market and takeout sections were untouched. “We will come back better than ever.” He said they hoped to be open for business this morning,

The company posted a notice on its Facebook page at around 11 a.m. Wednesday telling the public the market and the take-0ut business were open to the public.

Braun Seafood Co. opened in 1928.

Firefighters on the scene said the fire was controlled by about 6:30 a.m. Volunteers from East Marion to Jamesport assisted at the scene.

Cutchogue Fire Department Chief Tom Shalvey said the alarm was around 3 a.m. and he was on the scene within three minutes, quickly observing that the storage building was fully engulfed with flames.

Chief Shalvey said one firefighter was treated for minor heat issues.

Braun is a major seafood marketplace for the East End and beyond, supplying hundreds of restaurants across the region.