September 21, 2021 1000 hours. The Setauket Fire Department responds to a report of a barn fire on the grounds of Spycoast Farm at 23 Brewster Lane in Strongs Neck. Units arrive to find a 19,000 square foot horse barn/arena that had been converted into a sports complex, heavily involved by fire. Master streams were immediately put into operation and mutual aid was requested from sixteen departments. The main body of fire would be knocked down within a few hours but crews had to deal with a propane gas fire for two more days.Two firefighters were treated at the hospital for burns but were released the same day. Fire Marshals from the Town of Brookhaven determined that this was an accidental fire.
Some history on the property:
This Brewster Lane property was originally owned by Selah Strong, who was a New York State Supreme Court justice in the 1800s. His children sold it to the Rawson publishing family.
It became known as Blueberry Bay Farm, and they raised and sold Black Angus cows. At that point, it was the oldest continuously running farm in Suffolk County. It eventually became Spy Coast Farm where horses, which were world-class hunters and jumpers, were bred. The name was influenced by the Culper Spy Ring activity that took place in the area during the Revolutionary War.
The property was then sold to a private firm.
Cover photo via Setauket FD. Video below via Chris Sabella.
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