Long Island brush fire: Crews knock down blaze but wind threats remain
NEW YORK - BREAKING UPDATE: Failed s'mores-making attempt likely sparked Long Island fires
A previous versions of this report is below.
Dry conditions and powerful wind gusts on Eastern Long Island fanned a fast-moving brush fire that burned hundreds of acres and stifled traffic on Sunrise Highway for hours, but by Sunday morning, the fire was mostly contained.
"This was a very big fire that could have created very big problems if not for all of us coming together," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said during a press conference.
State of Emergency declared after fire burns Pine Barrens
As of 5:45 p.m. Saturday, the fire was 50 percent contained in the Westhampton area, with all other fires in the region now extinguished. FOX 5 NY's Jessica Formoso has the latest.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency for Suffolk County and a burn ban across the area as crews battled the fire in the Pine Barrens. The fire, which started around 1 p.m. Saturday, caused little damage, but wind continues to threaten the area.
Credit: 106 Rescue Wing
Here's the latest, along with a map of the fires:
The latest: Burn ban issued
Hochul issued a burn ban for Long Island, New York City, and parts of the Hudson Valley as firefighters were able to extinguish visible flames, trying to contain the fire fully while being mindful of wind threats.
The ban remains in effect until March 16 and "prohibits the starting of outdoor fires for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking." Smaller firepits, less then three feet in width or diameter, are allowd.
Forecast: What's the latest on the fires?
What's next:
As of Sunday morning, the fire was 80% contained, with only one of the four fires still being fought in Westhampton, according to Romaine's office. Rudy Sunderman, Suffolk County's Commissioner of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, said the fire was 100% knocked down, meaning there are no more visible flames.
Firefighters stand on a mound as the Sunrise Wildfire burns on August 25, 1995, at the Westhampton Transfer Station, Town of Southampton, New York. The fire was not extinguished until early September 1995. (Photo by Bill Davis/Newsday RM via Getty Im
Early estimates show around 600 acres were affected, and two commercial structures were damaged. No private homes were destroyed, and no evacuations were needed. One firefighter was flown to a hospital to be treated for burns to the face, and a second suffered injuries.
As crews continue to battle the blaze, forecasts show wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour will persist throughout the day, which could fuel the flames.
Wildfire maps
AirNow has an interactive Fire and Smoke Map for updates on blazes in your area. The National Interagency Fire Center has also partnered with NASA to provide real-time interactive fire maps.
Here's a look at affected areas on Long Island over the past 24 hours, according to FIRMS:
1 firefighter injured, Sunrise Highway shut down
The backstory:
Over 90 fire departments and EMS agencies deployed more than 600 fire personnel to the fires, which quickly spread throughout the Pine Barrens.
Rough satellite data indicated that fire and smoke stretched roughly 2.5 miles along Sunrise Highway, according to NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System.
Police closed a section of the highway, a thoroughfare to the East End of Long Island.
The fires raged near the Francis S. Gabreski Airport, from which the National Guard launched at least one helicopter. One of the commercial buildings that partially burned was near the airport.
Personnel at the base evacuated as a precautionary measure starting around 1:45 p.m., spokesperson Cheran Cambell said in a statement.
What they're saying:
In a statement, Hochul said the National Guard was providing support by helicopter and working with local law enforcement.
"Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to keep Long Islanders safe," she said.
What we don't know:
Officials have not detailed what caused the fires.
"We're going to get to the bottom of what happened," said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. "At this time it's too early to tell whether or not this fire started naturally or there's some nefarious origin."