US declares state of emergency in Long Island as brush fires shut down roads

On March 8, towns and communities in Long Island, New York, were on alert after brush fires spewed thick smoke into the air.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in Suffolk County as the fires raged on -- with gusty conditions expected to last through March 9 evening, Caliber.Az reports, American news sources.

The first fire started at about 1 p.m. and three others erupted throughout the day, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine told reporters during a news conference on March 9 afternoon. At that point, the fires were two miles long and two and a half miles wide, according to officials.

Hochul said the New York National Guard deployed multiple Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 660-gallon buckets of water to dump on the flames. Other state resources were also mobilized, according to the governor's office. Overall, more than 30 fire companies worked to battle the blaze.

The nearby Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base was evacuated as a precaution, according to the governor's office.

“We are deploying resources as quickly as possible, and I have mobilized our agencies, the National Guard and the State Police to provide air and ground support to ensure we keep our Long Islanders safe,” Hochul said in a statement.

Calling it an "evolving situation," the governor said nearby residents should monitor the latest emergency alerts and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.

By March 8 evening, the Westhampton fire was about 80% contained with firefighting operations expected to last through the night, according to Suffolk County Director of Communications Michael Martino.

Two commercial structures were damaged and a firefighter suffered a second-degree burn to his face, according to Romaine. He was airlifted to Stonybrook Hospital.

Several local roads and highways, including the Sunrise Highway, were closed as firefighters battled the blazes.

The town of Southampton asked residents to refrain from any and all outdoor recreational fires during the next 24 hours due to high winds and the danger of wildfires.

Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services said there was an elevated risk for fire spread on Saturday, due to both low humidity and winds ranging from 30-35 miles per hour.

By Khagan Isayev