Cause of fire that gutted Westhampton Beach co-op under investigation

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. (WABC) -- Firefighters from at least 10 departments responded to a large blaze at a condominium complex at a resort community on eastern Long Island.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says a 90-unit complex was engulfed in flames Wednesday afternoon. There were no reports of injuries.

The Sandpiper, on Dune Road in Westhampton Beach, went up in flames around 3 p.m.

Westhampton Beach Mayor Maria Moore said firefighters were able to stop the flames from spreading to other buildings.

Moore said the facility had not yet opened for the season. No owners or renters were in the building when it went up in flames Wednesday afternoon, but workers were there.

The complex became fully involved, with the top two floors of the three-story structure collapsing. It was so intense it melted the paint on a building on the east side and threatened a thousand gallon propane tank on the west.

Firefighters worked into the night on the wooden beachfront building, which is a summer home for many families.

"Huge. You could see flames from about three miles away and you still saw all the flames going up," said Dave Rose, an eyewitness.

For many, the building on the beach in the Hamptons represented summer, and they registered the loss on social media Wednesday night.

Marc Mugnos wrote, "A lot of great memories at the sandpiper. Sad day."

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Town of Southampton is leading the investigation.