Three major brush fires scorched part of New York’s Long Island on Saturday, triggering evacuations from a nearby military base and highway closures as strong winds whipped up the flames.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) declared a state of emergency Saturday evening and said helicopters from the New York National Guard were providing air support to Suffolk County, which is under an elevated fire risk.
Almost 80 fire departments have responded to the fires, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said in a Saturday news conference at Westhampton Beach. One firefighter was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital after sustaining second-degree burns to his face, Romaine said.
“Our biggest problem is the wind,” Romaine said. “It is going, as you can feel out here, about 30, 35 miles an hour, and it’s driving this fire.”
Near the wildfire area, winds gusted to about 40 mph with relative humidity just above 20 percent on Saturday afternoon. A significant lack of rain this fall probably contributed to the dry grounds and higher fire risk that turned the vegetation into ready tinder for brush fires.
Two commercial structures have been damaged so far, according to Sunderman. No residents are currently threatened, Southampton town Police Chief James Kiernan said.
Personnel from New York’s Office of Emergency Management, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Parks and the New York State Police were also deployed to battle the blazes, according to Hochul.
Authorities also closed a section of Sunrise Highway past exit 58, which serves as a thoroughfare to the East End of Long Island. Officials warned that more road closures may go into effect as firefighting efforts continue into the night.
