Long Island Wildfire Under Control but Still Poses Risk, New York Governor Issues Emergency Fire Ban

New York Long Island experienced a series of large-scale wildfires on March 8 due to the severe weather conditions of low humidity and strong winds, resulting in two firefighters injured and two commercial buildings damaged. Despite officials declaring on Sunday afternoon that all fires had been brought under control, the area remains in a state of emergency, with authorities issuing a ban on outdoor fires and reminding residents to be vigilant against fire hazards.

The wildfires primarily occurred in the Pine Barrens area of Suffolk County on Long Island, burning a total area of approximately 600 acres. The most severe blaze was located in Westhampton, where at its peak, the fire extended up to 2 miles in length and 2.5 miles in width, with thick smoke visible in the surrounding area. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine described the situation as, “Very fortunate that things did not get any worse.”

For safety considerations, authorities closed several major roads including Sunrise Highway, Route 27, and Montauk Highway on Saturday to facilitate firefighting operations. By Sunday afternoon, all affected roads had been reopened for traffic.

To further reduce the risk of wildfires, Governor Hochu instructed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on the 9th to immediately implement temporary outdoor fire bans in Long Island, New York City, and parts of the Hudson Valley, with the statewide annual fire ban set to take effect on March 16.

This ban covers Nassau County, Suffolk County, the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Orange County, Rockland, and others. The prohibition prohibits burning of outdoor brush and unattended campfires or open fires, but still allows for small and properly controlled backyard fire pits or campfires. The state government urges the public to visit the Department of Environmental Conservation website for more information on fire safety and disaster prevention guidelines.