Fire broke out on November 14 at about 9 p.m. in the downtown business area of Fire Island Boulevard, in Fire Island Pines, according to reports from the Cherry Grove Community Association and elsewhere. More than 200 firefighters, from 19 fire departments, from Fire Island, including the Pines and the Grove, and Long Island, responded to the fire, which engulfed and destroyed Sip ’n’ Twirl and the Pines Bistro, and the stores below them, including CF La Fountaine, the gas company, and its gas tanks, and the Pines Pavilion. There were, fortunately, no injuries and the cause of the fire has not yet been definitely determined.

Andrew Kirtzman, co-owner of the Pavilion and founder of the Madison Fire Island Pines guesthouse, posted the following on Facebook:
This is obviously a very difficult night for all of us, and I wanted to give everyone a status report from the scene of the fire. I am outside the Pavilion building, surrounded by over 100 firefighters from across Long Island. The fire is under control but is not completely out. Both the Pavilion and LaFountaine buildings are still standing, but they have been completely gutted by fire and water. Sip ’n' Twirl, the Bistro and the stores below them are in ruin. The roof over the Pavilion is gone, and the high tea deck has been destroyed. Small fires are still burning inside the Pavilion—the dance floor—and it's too dangerous for firefighters to enter inside. The department has called for bulldozers to be brought here from across the [Great South B]ay, as it may be safer to destroy the Pavilion altogether rather than fight the remaining blazes. It is an unfathomable moment. The air in the harbor is still thick with smoke, but the fire has not spread anywhere else, thanks to the incredible work of the Pines Fire Department and the departments that raced to its aid. Firefighters will be here through the night to ensure that no flames re-ignite and create a new threat to the other properties. Canteen, Blue Whale, the hotel [Hotel Ciel] and [Pines] Pantry are all fine. The Suffolk County Fire Department believes the fire began outside the LaFountaine office, engulfed that building and then spread to the Pavilion. Officials tell me they don't believe the fire to be suspicious. Seth [Weissman], Matt[hew Blesso] and I want to thank you all for your notes and phone calls. Everyone has a stake in these properties, and the love and passion we all feel for them are ringing loud and clearly this painful evening. Tomorrow morning, Seth, Matt and I will begin the process of renewing this beautiful property and making it even more spectacular than it was before. Our hearts go out to Nicole LaFountaine, Patrick, [Sip ’n’ Twirl owner] P.J. [McAteer] , [realtor] Bob Howard and others in the LaFountaine building, and we will help one another get the commercial district ready for summer 2012. There is a lot of hard work ahead for all of us. We feel blessed that no one was injured, and proud to be part of this beautiful community.—Andrew

Realtor Jon Wilner’s posting was:
It is now 4 am in Fire Island Pines. We have no electric power, there are still various flames coming out of the Pavilion and Bistro where there are remnants of a frame for a roof. The harbor is still completely engulfed in smoke, you cannot see two feet in front of you. There is water everwhere that comes up to your ankles. What is left of Nicole LaFountaine's building and the Pavilion are about ready to collapse and there are still over one hundred fire fighters from Long Island and the neighboring communities. Ken Stein and Sayville Ferry have been running boats back and forth bringing additional fire fighters all night. Our own volunteer fire department has not stopped working tirelessly since 9 p.m. last night, risking their lives to save our community. We understand that the building department has ordered the immediate arrival of bulldozers to remove the remnants of both buildings. Sip ’n’ Twirl, Bob Howard Real Estate, the Bistro, Jalston, Pines Harbor Realty and CF LaFountaine have all lost their building. The Pavilion, Beachscapes, Pines Gym, High Tea are all casualties as well. My office surprisingly remains intact, however I have been told that it will be bulldozed along with the Pavilion in a matter of hours. I am hoping that somehow I can gain access for my files, keys, etc if possible before it is reduced to rubble. The entire community has been emailing, texting, calling all night long and the amount of support for Andrew, Seth, Matt and Nicole is enormous and all four of them will rebuild our commercial district in time for Summer 2012. We stand behind these commercial owners as does the entire community, homeowners, renters, in truth we are one big family. We will survive, of course, we are all survivors, we are the Pines!

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) shut off electrical power in the Grove as well. Joyce Yaeger, of CGCAI and the Cherry Grove Fire Department, beginning “Our hearts go out to the Pines,” reported:
More than 200 firefighters responded to the call which came Monday night, including several of Cherry Grove’s bravest: Assistant Chief Laura Ann Giusto, ex-chief Mike Romanelli, Bob Lerch, Robert Conlon, Fran Rheinhardt with Nancy Haskell and Sara Widdicomb standing by with Arthur Cohen in the Grove. For some of us, this is a frightening reminder of the fire at Michael’s restaurant in the Grove a decade ago and how vulnerable we are, especially to fire.

Sip ’n’ Twirl’s P.J. McAteer posted this message on Facebook:
Please remember Fire Island Pines is more than just buildings, it is an institution, it is a community. We will survive!