Several wind-driven brush fires erupted on New York’s Long Island over the weekend, injuring two firefighters and sending large smoke plumes into the air. Officials are investigating arson as a potential cause.
Firefighters faced strong winds while responding to at least four separate brush fires that began Saturday afternoon and quickly spread. No residents were in the fire’s direct path, but two firefighters were injured, and at least two structures burned.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Saturday, stating, “This could be a multi-day event.” The fires are burning in a nature preserve, but it would not take much for them to reach populated areas.
The governor issued a burn ban across Long Island, New York City, and parts of the Hudson Valley to protect the areas. Violators could face a fine of $500 for a first offense.
The fires evoked memories of the 1995 Sunrise Fire that burned through more than 5,000 acres of the Pine Barrens nature preserve and forced hundreds from their homes.
Around 1 p.m. Saturday, Suffolk County residents began to smell smoke inside their homes. Entire neighborhoods were engulfed in smoke, prompting residents to investigate the source. The fires affected areas near Sunrise Highway, leading to road closures and evacuations.
Source: Swifteradio.com
