Firefighters in New York successfully extinguished the remnants of a brush fire in Long Island’s wooded areas on Sunday, as officials warned that strong wind gusts could heighten the risk of new outbreaks.
Gov. Kathy Hochul had declared a state of emergency on Saturday after four separate fires erupted across Long Island’s Pine Barrens, leading to highway closures and the evacuation of a military base.
By Sunday, all visible flames had been extinguished, including the last active fire in Westhampton, according to Suffolk County Fire Coordinator Rudy Sunderman. At a press conference, Sunderman confirmed that crews were securing containment lines to prevent further spread and noted that the fire had not expanded since early Sunday.
Despite progress, officials remained cautious due to wind gusts reaching up to 30 mph (48 km/h), according to the National Weather Service.
“We’re concerned because the winds are still blowing, that might spark up again,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.
Romaine praised the efforts of more than 80 volunteer fire departments that battled the blaze, which scorched approximately 600 acres (243 hectares). Two firefighters were hospitalized with injuries but have since been released, according to Sunderman.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities, including detectives and drone units, are reviewing 911 calls. Suffolk County officials confirmed that the police department’s arson squad is involved, though there is no immediate evidence of foul play.
“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.”
At least two commercial structures sustained damage. Meanwhile, officials continued monitoring a small brush fire along Sunrise Highway in Brookhaven Town, though no visible flames were reported as of Sunday morning.
Source: Swifteradio.com
