2 brothers killed, parents hurt in West Islip house fire

Two brothers died in an early morning house fire in West Islip that also injured their parents, according to Suffolk County police and fire officials.

The brothers, Matthew Kreamer, 24, and Kyle Dilegame, 16, who lived at the home, were found dead inside, police said.

Joseph Dilegame, 54, and Toni Kreamer, 53, who also lived there, were taken by the West Islip Fire Department to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, police said. Joseph Dilegame was seriously hurt and subsequently taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center. Toni Kreamer sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The fire at the two-story house on Udall Road near Arcadia Drive broke out about 5:55 a.m. Saturday. When firefighters arrived, the house was engulfed, according to West Islip Assistant Fire Chief Robert Celeste. 

“There were some clutter conditions but the entire house was on fire,” Celeste said.

The survivors were outside the house when firefighters arrived, Celeste said Sunday. 

It took about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control, he said. 

A preliminary investigation determined the cause of the fire to be noncriminal, police said. Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad and Arson Section detectives were investigating.

Victims attended West Islip schools

The brothers who died had ties to the West Islip school district, schools Superintendent Paul Romanelli said in a letter to the community Saturday. One was a student there and the other was a former student.

"While we cannot begin to imagine what a tragedy like this means to this family, we can do our best to support them, and each other, through this difficult time," the letter stated, adding that grief counseling would be available in the days ahead.

Kyle Dilegame was a West Islip High School senior on the football team for the past two years, said Steve Mileti, the team's head coach. Mileti said Dilegame, a fullback and linebacker for the Lions, was a "tremendous young man" with "great character" who was "always laughing and joking and making people happy."

The team had won a playoff game Friday night, defeating Centereach 35-0, to improve to 8-1.

"We were dancing together last night after the game," an emotional Mileti said. "Nothing can ever prepare you for such an event." 

West Islip senior and team captain Chris Piropato described Dilegame as a great teammate and a hard worker. Piropato said he and his teammates were shaken by the news.

"One moment we’re celebrating a big playoff win, and the next … ," Piropato said. 

Lino Sirizzotti, of Seaford, who said he was a longtime family friend, stopped by the fire scene. He called the family “very good people” and said he was “shocked” and “very emotional” over the tragedy.

Neighbors: 'It's just a horror'

Neighbors described a frantic scene early Saturday morning.

James Martin, who lives two doors away, said he thought the fire started on the side of the home before eventually engulfing it. He said a man could be seen screaming for a woman to jump from the second story. A school safety officer was later seen helping console a man and woman outside, he said. 

"It's just crazy," Martin said.

Bruce Huggins lives across the street from the home. He said he called 911 around 5:30 a.m. and later saw a man banging on the front door. 

John Delaney, who lives on Udall Road, said he woke up to flashing lights and went out to see a “ball of flames” a few homes away. “It’s just a horror,” he said.

Celeste said two firefighters were evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation and overexertion. About 75 firefighters and EMS workers from various departments responded. The two surviving adults suffered burns and smoke inhalation, he said.

"It's a rough morning," Celeste said.

Later, Piropato said he and his teammates were planning to meet Saturday night at an assistant coach's house and then go to Mass together at a local church. Afterward, he said, they planned to meet back at the high school "to be together."

"Some of our guys live on the same block as Kyle and it's been traumatic for them; it's been awful for all of us," he said.

Romanelli, the schools superintendent, said the school district will have grief and counseling support available for all students and staff on Sunday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the West Islip High School library. Counseling also will be available at the high school on Monday and "will continue for as long as it is needed."

"In difficult times, we are stronger together. I know that we will each provide all of the love and support that we can while we navigate this situation as one West Islip family," his letter read.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the fire to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392.

With Gregg Sarra and Arielle Dollinger

Correction: An earlier version of this story did not correctly state the location of the survivors when first responders arrived, according to West Islip Assistant Fire Chief Robert Celeste. They were outside of the house.