Nearly 150 firefighters worked to battle a brush fire in Levittown today that crept dangerously close to a shopping center and several residential homes.

Thick smoke filled the air after the fire broke out in a sump within a heavily wooded area just south of Hempstead Turnpike.

Firefighters say the flames quickly spread to scorch an area the size of four football fields. On one side of the sump sits a busy shopping center, and the fire threatened numerous homes in the area.

At one point, LIPA shut down power to the area as the flames neared one of its substations.

Fire Chief Donald Epply says the dry conditions coupled with today's wind could have made the fire much worse.

The fire is now under control.

For Chopper 12 over Levittown brush fire, watch the clip to the left or click News 12 Extra on Optimum TV channel 612.