November 16, 2021 2238 hours. Riverhead firefighters were dispatched to a report of a house on fire with occupants trapped at 46 East 2nd Street. Units arrive to find fire throughout a 7,000 square foot three story wood frame dwelling. Firefighters were unable to enter the 114 year old structure due to the volume of fire and the extent of the damage. Crews from Riverhead FD, assisted by firefighters from the Flanders, Eastport and Jamesport Fire Departments, stretched and operated multiple hand lines and master streams. The fire was placed placed under control within a few hours. Once the fire was extinguished, crews were able to enter and search for the victims. All five were found on in the third floor apartment. The victims are identified as Zonia Dinora Rivera, 41, her children, Carlos Cifredo Peñate Rivera, 24 and Andrea Isamar González, 16, and her nephews, Douglas Edgardo Rivera Aguirre, 24, Carlos Alberto Ramos Aguirre, 22.
Ambulances were on scene from Riverhead Ambulance, Wading River FD, Flanders Ambulance, Hampton Bays Ambulance and Shirley Community Ambulance. A Riverhead firefighter was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of a minor injury and released, A Riverhead police officer and three civilians were treated at the scene. Suffolk PD homicide and arson detectives were assisting the Riverbed Town Police and Fire Marshals Office with the investigation. The fire is not considered suspicious. Cover photo by Stringer News Service.
This is the deadliest Fire in Riverhead since five children were killed in an arson on Harrison Avenue in July of 1994.
Be First to Comment