Locals Begin Recovery Following Fire's Damage

While this week's  throughout Ridge and Manorville, George and Kathy Moretti saw their lives changed by a far smaller piece of the devastation.

It was close to 10 a.m. on Wednesday when the couple, along with a friend, Doug Swanson, returned to survey their home on Oakwood Drive, likely the most damaged residential property in the fire. 

"You live in a place for 25 years, it's full of everything," said George. "Christmas decorations from 40 years back. You know, Easter Sunday we had 18 people around the dining room table having Easter dinner. That was on Sunday. The house was gone on Monday."

Moretti said he couldn't recall what time specifically the blaze came through Oakwood - "some time in the late afternoon" - but the feeling of a mandatory evacuation, filling up his wife's car with photos and vital documents before waiting to hear about the status of his home, is one he recalled quite clearly.

"For hours and hours and hours, you're wondering what's going on. My buddy called and said the roof of my garage was on fire. Twenty minutes later, I got another call saying my house was gone. And who do you believe?"

The Moretti's garage - which housed George's 1985 Kawasaki 454 LTD, a limited edition motorcycle - was completely destroyed in the fire, one of nine structures Suffolk County officials are reporting damaged. Their home was boarded up Wednesday morning, and the fire which started in their basement caused significant structural and water damage, George said.

The couple is waiting to hear from their insurance adjustor to determine what their next step will be in finding a place to live. In the meantime, they are staying with their daughter about 20 minutes away.

Click here for Riverhead Patch's entire coverage of the brush fire.

Around the corner, a shop where Dennis Krupski held his racing car was destroyed. Krupski was able to remove his car, a welder and some scales before the fire hit the area, but the location he worked out of for over 20 years was burned to the ground as well.

Tuesday afternoon's was held on the Krupski family's property. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a few words to Krupski after he arrived, though as the press conference went on, Krupski still walked among the ashes, surveying the damage.

"I'm devastated," he said Tuesday. The Calverton resident races in Riverhead and Thompson, Conn., and said he's unsure if he'll be able to race this year. "I'm trying to get everything together," he said. "I've had some offers."

Near Krupski's and the Moretti's properties, what struck neighbors and the fire victims themselves was the stark contrast that could be seen just yards away from areas that had been burnt to a crisp. All were and thankful no lives were lost in the blaze.

Chreyl Smith, who lives at the end of Oakwood Drive, lost a storage barn in her back yard, and a car she planned on giving to her son exploded in flames. But her house remained almost completely in tact, save for a few curled shingles and smoke damage. 

"It's amazing what the fire picked to burn and what it didn't," Smith said.

Claire and Mark Burnett, who live across the street from the Morettis, worked on their garden Wednesday morning. Five yards away, a row of scorched trees ran through their property.

While a burning smell hung in the air Wednesday morning, chirping burds signaled a return of at least some wildlife to the area and a few cars drove up and down Oakwood Drive - where a speed limit of 10-and-a-half is posted on a hand-made sign - to check in on the residents.

Riverhead Councilman John Dunleavy, touring some houses with Water District Superintendent Gary Pendzick minutes after three police cruisers rolled through, said the town would do all it could to make sure anyone affected by the fire would be back on their feet as soon as they can.

Swanson, who arrived with the Morettis, said he would keep his friends in mind as things progress. 

"When things get ready, we’ll do something for you," he said. "We’ll all hook up and do something. I don’t know what it is yet."