Ristau family extends thanks to police, firefighters and Riverhead community

Gina and Gary Ristau, who lost their home, nearly all their worldly possessions and two beloved cats yesterday in a fast-moving fire, are trying to wrap their heads around what has happened and figure out the steps they need to take to rebuild their lives.

“It’s so overwhelming,” a tearful Gina Ristau said this morning.

“We’re just grateful no one was hurt,” she said, other than two of the family’s three cats. “They died from the smoke. They were sisters.”

Ristau called RiverheadLOCAL to express the family’s gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community.

“I want everyone to know how thankful we are,” she said, choking back tears. “The police, the firemen the emergency workers — they were wonderful, just wonderful,” Ristau said. She loses her composure, then pulls herself back together to continue.

“And our neighbors and the whole community…the support…it’s just amazing, and I really want to put the word out of how thankful we are,” she said.

The police cautioned them about the potential for looters in a situation like theirs, so she and her husband spent the night on cushions in the garage. Her younger daughter, Briana, a 2013 Riverhead High School graduate, was put up at a neighbor’s house. Her older daughter, Jyl, who lives in Costa Rica and happens to be here visiting, slept in the pool house last night.

They are trying to sort out next steps. Secure the house. Find temporary lodging. Buy essential items, including clothing and things like USB cords so you can charge your cell phone. There are a million details. Everything needs to be documented. Receipts for all purchases must be retained. An inventory of things lost in the fire must be compiled.

“You don’t realize all of it until it happens to you. Fortunately, I’m a teacher so I have a more few weeks before I go back to school so I’ll have some time to deal with this,” she said.

Briana, her younger daughter, lost everything in the fire, including clothing, and a lot of photography equipment she has for a business she just launched. Last night, Briana’s friend, Caitlin Padaletti set up a GoFundMe  fundraising page to help replace things lost in the blaze.

Ristau said it’s not yet clear whether the 130-year-old farmhouse on Church Lane can be rebuilt or will have to be razed. That’s another question that needs to be answered in the days ahead.

“We’ll get through this. We’re a strong family,” she said, “and people get through much worse than this. In the end, what we lost were only things and things can always be replaced.”