Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
A fire broke out in trailers parked behind the Home Depot on Old Country Road in Riverhead at 12:56 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, sending thick plumes of dark smoke into the sky above the shopping area, according to the Riverhead Police Department as reported by Patch.
When officers and firefighters arrived on scene, they discovered that a trailer parked in the rear of the store was already fully engulfed in flames, police said. The fire did not stay contained to the first trailer — it eventually spread to a second trailer parked nearby in the same area, compounding the scope of the blaze and the resources needed to bring it under control, according to Patch.
The Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department responded with multiple units to battle the fire. Given the intensity and spread of the blaze, six additional fire departments were called in for mutual aid: the Jamesport Fire Department, Flanders Fire Department, Wading River Fire Department, Ridge Fire Department, Westhampton Beach Fire Department, and Hampton Bays Fire Department all responded to assist, police confirmed per the Patch report. The broad geographic reach of the mutual aid response — drawing departments from across the North Fork, the Riverhead area, and as far west as Ridge and as far east as Hampton Bays — underscores how seriously first responders treated the incident.
The Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps also responded to the scene, though in a stand-by capacity, police said. No injuries were reported in connection with the fire.
The Home Depot store itself was closed in the aftermath of the blaze, pending the cleanup of the scene and the removal of the two burned trailers, the Riverhead Police Department stated. Customers and employees were affected by the closure, though police did not indicate how long the closure was expected to last.
Notably, this is not the first time fire has struck this particular retail location. According to Patch, a fire also broke out at the Riverhead Home Depot back in 2022, making Tuesday’s incident the second significant fire event at the store in roughly four years.
Location & Road Context
The Home Depot involved in Tuesday’s fire is located on Old Country Road in Riverhead, a major commercial corridor on Long Island’s East End that serves both local residents and the large volume of traffic heading out to the North Fork and the Hamptons during the warmer months. Old Country Road (NY Route 58) is one of Riverhead’s primary retail strips, lined with big-box stores, auto dealerships, and shopping centers, meaning fire and emergency incidents in the area can create significant disruption to traffic flow and nearby businesses. Those traveling through the Riverhead area on Route 58 should anticipate possible delays or lane restrictions near the Home Depot while cleanup operations continue.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Riverhead fire marshal’s office has opened an investigation into the cause of the fire, according to police. At this stage, the incident is believed to be non-criminal in nature, though officials have not yet publicly identified a specific ignition source or cause. The investigation remains active and ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as the fire marshal’s office completes its review of the scene.
Broader Impact
Fires involving commercial trailers — which can contain stored merchandise, equipment, propane, or flammable materials — present unique challenges for firefighters and can result in extended cleanup timelines, hazardous material concerns, and prolonged business closures. The involvement of seven separate fire departments at Tuesday’s scene highlights the resource demands that even a “non-criminal” trailer fire can place on volunteer emergency services across eastern Suffolk County. Residents and shoppers near Old Country Road in Riverhead should monitor updates from the Riverhead Police Department and Riverhead Volunteer Fire Department for the latest on store access and road conditions in the vicinity.