Two men were airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital to be treated for burns after the Water Mill house they were working on exploded at approximately 2:15 on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Sergeant Susan Ralph of the Southampton Town Police Department, area residents called police on Wednesday afternoon after the house at 21 Country Road exploded and caught on fire. Water Mill residents reported hearing “an explosive boom” according to the police.
The house was fully engulfed in flames by the time Southampton Town and Village Ambulance squads and the Southampton Town Fire Department were on scene.
The fire fighters were able to extinguish the flames, but the house was completely demolished in the explosion.
Both detectives and fire marshals were on the scene on Wednesday afternoon, according to Sgt. Ralph.
Rolando Perez, 40, and Abner Canel, 18, both of Riverhead were working in the basement of the house when it exploded. The fire marshal’s preliminary investigation indicates that the men accidentally cut a gas line while doing renovations, which caused the explosion.
Both men suffered severe burns and wounds and were airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital. On Wednesday, Mr. Perez was listed in stable condition, and Mr. Canel was in critical condition.
Building inspectors were also on scene on Tuesday and were checking the condominiums on Head of Pond Road, which appeared to have been damaged.
