More than 200 acres of Connetquot State Park Preserve were destroyed by a brush fire Monday, state Parks Department officials said.

More than 30 fire departments responded shortly after the flames broke out around 12:15 p.m. It took nearly three hours to put it out. Firefighters said progress of the fire, which burnt close to Sycamore Avenue and Church Street, was actually slowed by brush affected by an earlier fire.

Flames reached above the trees at 40 to 50 feet tall, witnesses said, and white smoke covered large areas in and around the park. Officials said there were homes less than 1,000 feet away, but nobody was evacuated and there weren't any injuries.

Connetquot State Park Preserve maintains nearly 3,500 acres of land and water for the protection of animals. It also has 50 miles of trails for various activities.

To watch exclusive Chopper 12 footage of the brush fire, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.