Coram house looks like 'total loss' after fire, official says

A Coram house was engulfed in flames Wednesday after high winds blew the fire from the garage to the main house, authorities said.

About 60 firefighters from four departments struggled to control the blaze, which Suffolk police said broke out just before 3 p.m. at a split-level home on Alaska Court. At least two people were able to get out of the house on their own and also rescue the family dog, authorities said.

About 20 minutes into the fire fight, everyone was ordered out of the house for an outside-only operation after wind-driven flames reached the attic, said Second Assistant Chief Robert Walther of the Coram fire department. 

No one was injured in the fire, police said.

The wind was a factor in causing major damage, Walther said. Strong gusts cause the flames and smoke to behave in unexpected ways, he said.

"It's just harder to fight the fire in general because you're fighting the wind, on top of the fire," the chief said. "It pretty much kind of makes its own storm . . . The smoke, which normally would rise, is now blowing across your face. One second, the fire is in front of you, you're looking at it. The next minute, it's coming at you."

When he arrived at the house, Walther said, the fire appeared to be centered in the garage. Two vehicles in the driveway were also ablaze, he said.

The wind-blown flames jumped into the living space, and it took about 90 minutes to control the fire, Walther said.

"It was definitely longer than we're used to," he said. But, he added, "It was a good job done by the guys that were there for a daytime fire."

Coram had help at the scene from the Miller Place, Middle Island and Selden departments, with Medford on standby, he said. 

Police detectives were looking into the cause of the fire.

Walther said the house looked like a "total loss."

"The roof pretty much burned off," he said. "There wasn't much left."