Brusket fires have exploded in Long Island and near Brooklyn, since the strong winds in New York created a high risk of fire extension on Saturday, according to the National Meteorological Service.
A special weather statement was active on Saturday in New York City and Long Island, where a combination of “low relative humidity values about 30 percent and the northwest winds that break 30 to 35 mph” can make the fires extend rapidly, said the weather service.
The region impacted by the risk of elevated fire, the southeast of the state of New York, the north of New Jersey and the southern Connecticut, includes Long Island and the five districts of New York City.
Governor Kathy Hochul declared an emergency state on Saturday in Suffolk County of Long Island in brush fires in Pine Barrens, he said in X.
Hochul said in a separate statement on Saturday afternoon that he offered the Suffolk County Executive, Ed Romaine, “any resource and support he needs.”
The New York National Guard helicopter teams were assigned to help firefighters on the ground, and state agencies have also responded to forest fires, he said.
“I am committed to doing everything possible to keep Self Saturday in his declaration of Long Islanders,” he said in his statement.
Suffolk County Fire
Romaine said at a press conference in the afternoon that his county was the site of four forest fires, three of which are completely contained and one, in Westampton, with 50% containment.
The largest of the four was described by Romaine as 2 miles long and more than 2 miles wide.
Two people suffered wounds and two structures were damaged, he said. One of the injured was described as a firefighter who suffered second degree burns on his face, he said.
The firefighter was being treated in a burning center. Your condition was not available.
Maria Z. Moore, supervisor of the city of Southampton, also declared an emergency state, saying that multiple fires along Sunrise Highway near Westhampton began from around 1 pm
He blamed the racious winds, the dry conditions on the ground and the damage of the forest caused by an infestation of beetles of the South Pine for “exacerbating” the underlying conditions to the fires, according to their statement.
“Such conditions threaten and/or relieve the public security of citizens of the city of Southampton,” he wrote.
She said they were possible more fires under “high threat” raised by weather and vegetation.
Drew Scott, spokesman for the city of Brookhaven, said that one or two structures have been damaged by a fire that is also affecting Southampton. The Romaine County Executive then said that the fire damaged two commercial buildings in the area. It is not clear if they referred to the same two structures.
The Supervisor of the city of Brookhaven, Dan Panico, said that the first to respond to the lifeguards of mutual aid have been sent from 40 firefighters departments in the area to help with the community’s response. Among the agencies that send resources are the Fire Departments of Islip and Wyandanch, he said.
Brooklyn fire
The video on social networks showed smoke columns that undulating a fire in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon. The New York City Fire Department said in X that the fire was located in the community of Gerritsen Beach, adjacent to the Marine Park, and was under control at night.
The department said a helicopter team from the New York Police Department used a “bambi cube” to collect water for multiple drops in the flames. He said that the marine units of FDNY and the Volunteer Fire Department of Gerritsen Beach also sent help.
No injuries were reported.
The New York State Transportation said that portions of the Sunrise road of Ny27 and South Road de South Service have closed due to the fires, and asked motorists to avoid the area.
Strong winds add to fire risk
The region was under a high risk of fire up to at least 7 pm, although the weather service said in a fire weather forecast that bursts of up to 30 mph would last until Sunday and the unusually dry conditions would remain at least until Monday.
Winding notices in the region are expected to last until Saturday night, according to the weather service.
Around 7 million people are under wind alerts in New England, even in Boston and Albany, New York.
“Warning exercise managing any possible source of ignition, including machinery, cigarettes and matches,” warned the meteorological service in a “special weather statement.” “Any fire that is turned on will have the potential to spread rapidly.”
The cause of fires is not known at this time. There have been no injury reports.
