Firefighters find 13 neglected animals during fire at Port Jeff home; three people arrested

A roof fire just may have saved the lives of more than a dozen pets in Port Jefferson.

Firefighters battling the Monday blaze, sparked by a transformer malfunction, found 13 animals suffering without food or water, and three people now face charges, police said.

The Port Jefferson Fire Department and fire marshals also responded to the fire at 3 Willis Ave. at about 9:45 a.m.

Inside the home, firefighters saw several different species of animals living in what authorities described as deplorable conditions.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team, known as BEAST, launched an investigation and executed a search warrant at the home.

Brian Burden, 50, and Nicole Ramunni, 44, both of the Willis Avenue residence, and Timothy Burden, 55, of Stony Brook were arrested.

They each face 13 counts of failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animals.

All three were issued desk appearance tickets and were arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Police did not detail what types of animals were found or where they were taken.

_{Top: GLI file photo (Brian Harmon)}