Fire tears through barn, spreads to two buildings at Cifarelli’s in Southold
A fast-moving fire tore through a barn and spread to two other structures at Cifarelli’s in Southold on Sunday night, sending flames and thick smoke high above the nursery property as firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours.
Southold Town police dispatchers began receiving a flurry of 911 calls around 8:33 p.m. reporting a large fire near Ackerly Pond Lane, according to the Southold Fire Department.
Police and firefighters arrived to find a barn engulfed in flames at the Cifarelli’s complex at 3405 Ackerly Pond Lane. The fire quickly spread to two nearby structures and threatened another large barn and a house on the property before Southold firefighters brought the flames under control, officials said.
Photos from the scene posted to Facebook by the Cutchogue Fire Department show flames towering over the property as firefighters stretched hoses between nursery buildings and equipment.
Cutchogue firefighters were called in to provide a rapid intervention team in case of a firefighter emergency and later helped extinguish remaining hot spots. The Greenport Fire Department provided standby coverage at Southold’s firehouse.
No injuries were reported.
The property owner told police the barn contained chainsaws, blowers and other equipment and said workers earlier that day had used linseed oil and left oil-soaked rags inside. Suffolk County Arson investigators determined the fire was not criminal and was most likely caused when improperly stored rags spontaneously combusted.
Cifarelli’s property includes greenhouses, a garden boutique and displays of outdoor furnishings, pottery and other items.
