Westhampton fireplace largely contained in a single day on Lengthy Island – NBC New York
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Saturday as robust winds fueled a handful of brush fires on Lengthy Island’s east finish.
The biggest and solely remaining fireplace nonetheless burning on the finish of the day was in Westhampton, close to Gabreski Airport, in response to native authorities. An estimated 80 fireplace departments have been mentioned to be serving to within the response.
By late Saturday, officers in Suffolk County mentioned the hearth was practically 80 % contained. Three smaller fires that additionally sprouted round 1 p.m. had already been extinguished.
Reviews of the primary fireplace got here round 1 p.m., however by the point of the press convention every of the areas had been extinguished aside from the hearth in Westhampton. The final fireplace standing was roughly 50% contained, officers mentioned.
“This fireplace at its largest, which remains to be burning, is 2 miles lengthy and a couple of.5 miles vast,” County Govt Ed Romaine mentioned at a joint press convention held by responding businesses at 5:30 p.m. “It began in Middle Moriches, then to East Moriches, then Eastport after which Westhampton, and now the hearth is heading towards Quogue.”
No less than one firefighter suffered face burns and needed to be transported to Stony Brook Hospital. The extent of their accidents was not instantly identified.
Police needed to shut Dawn Freeway in each instructions Saturday afternoon east of Exit 58.
“Our greatest drawback is the wind. It’s going, as you’ll be able to really feel out right here, about 30-35 miles an hour,” Romaine mentioned.
There have been no threats to any houses or different residential constructions as of Saturday night. Officers on the press convention reminded locals that if that modified, folks would obtain door knocks or telephone calls to inform them of evacuation orders.
Two industrial constructions did, nevertheless, undergo some harm however firefighters have been capable of knock down the flames earlier than both have been destroyed.
New York’s governor mentioned her workplace was in communication with native businesses to help with any assets wanted to battle the fires.
“I’m issuing a State of Emergency as Suffolk County fights brush fires within the Pine Barrens. I’ve spoken to @ExecEdRomaine and provided any mandatory State assets,” Hochul mentioned on the platform X.
The Suffolk County Police Division’s arson squad is investigating the reason for the fires.
Right here is the native radar indicating a few smoke plumes from small scale fires (radar imagery by 2:55 pm). A NW wind has the plumes blowing offshore additional downstream. #nycwx #nywx #liwx pic.twitter.com/kW5XZoHse2
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) March 8, 2025
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Adjustments in climate patterns are disrupting our communities and the world round us. Chasing Our Local weather: On the Frontlines is a 30-minute Earth Month documentary that includes tri-state local weather warriors behind the rescue missions of devastating wildfire and flash flooding emergencies. NBC New York’s Linda Gaudino experiences.
