News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Politics
Taxing Long Island
Stony Brook Medicine
Vote 2026: Long Island primaries

Cause of fire that killed mother and son in Smithtown remains under investigation

News 12 is told five people lived at the house — the homeowner and four people who rent rooms.

Logan Crawford

Dec 1, 2025, 12:39 PM

Updated

Share:

More Stories

Deadly flames ripped through a home in Smithtown, claiming the lives of Christine Lehmann and her 25-year-old son Nicholas.

Pictures from a witness showed the intensity of the blaze before firefighters arrived on Fifty Acre Road South around 3 p.m. Sunday.

News 12 is told five people lived at the house — the homeowner and four people who rent rooms.

One of the tenants said Lehmann's son was visiting her for the holiday.

Police say the homeowner, 91-year-old Ronald Montagna, was taken to the hospital for burns and smoke inhalation.

Another tenant of the house, Anthony Capasso, tells News 12 he and a home aide take care of Montagna.

Capasso says he was away at the time of the fire.

Police say the fire it does not appear to be criminal.

More Stories

Top Stories

00:51
li10pmbolwavetwister_2026-06-19-22-04-58

Malfunction temporarily traps guests on Adventureland ride

06:07
F P2 PM 1

A tale of two forecasts: Long Island's golden weekend and gloomy Monday

01:59
li10pmboljennaupate_2026-06-19-22-25-08

Big events bring heavy traffic to Long Island this holiday weekend

01:47
li5pmbolnews12liregents_2026-06-19-17-11-25

Parents raise concerns over ‘unfair’ state science Regents Exams

01:22
li5pmfirefighterdadanddaughterjulia_2026-06-19-17-22-06

‘A bond we share.' Father and daughter work together to fight fires and protect community

02:29
solsltice sunset

Summer begins this Sunday with over 15 hours of daylight for Father’s Day

00:45
LIPalOMine619_2026-06-19-21-20-11

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian hosts ‘The Mane Event’ to celebrate Year of the Horse

00:29
power outage

Power outage affects three Long Island beaches

01:54
LIWorldCupWatch6195p_2026-06-19-17-17-17

World Cup watch parties, US Open & Father’s Day make for hectic weekend on LI roads

00:26
governor's

Man stabbed after argument at Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown

00:23
DWI CRASH

Oceanside man arrested for DWI after striking 78-year-old pedestrian

01:44
LISeelig6619_2026-06-19-06-15-26

More traffic concerns as 25K fans expected at Shinnecock Hills for U.S. Open

AP26170714954300

Despite Christian Pulisic’s absence, US beats Australia 2-0 to advance to World Cup knockout round

01:51
LIcongress619_2026-06-19-09-05-48

Chris Gallant, Lukas Ventouras to face off in Democratic primary for Congress

02:14
Image (7)

Food Truck Fridays: The Mighty Bean Coffee

01:55
paraderoutefunCM_2026-06-18-17-12-08

Thousands of fans pack NYC streets for Knicks NBA championship parade

00:24
LISBUINDICTMENT619_2026-06-19-05-09-12

College student indicted for selling drugs from Stony Brook dorm room

01:46
5PM LI_Travel Concerns USopen_ajc_2026-06-18-22-09-31

Heavy traffic expected this weekend as thousands of fans travel to US Open

00:27
5PMRexMovedKK_2026-06-18-17-06-12

Serial killer Rex Heuermann moved off Long Island to upstate prison facility

01:45
5PM LI_Video Exclusive_ajc_2026-06-18-17-07-45

Exclusive video shows man trying to steal car with 2 children inside in Brentwood

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices