Crews tackle remaining hotspots from weekend's East End fires
According to fire officials, while all four fires are 100% knocked down, the largest one in Westhampton Beach is only 60% contained as crews finish establishing a perimeter.
The largest of them was in Westhampton Beach which is 60% contained, according to state officials with the Department of Homeland Security. Crews are headed back out to finish establishing a perimeter.
Fire officials said four separate brush fires burned about 400 acres of land starting Saturday afternoon. The first was in Center Moriches, then East Moriches, Eastport and Westhampton Beach.
The fires sent thick smoke billowing into the sky that could be seen for miles
The Suffolk County Police Department's arson squad is investigating what caused the brush fires to start.
Suffolk Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Commissioner Rudy Sunderman says crews are back out this morning and assembled to continue their containment efforts of the fires.
Nassau County Chief Fire Marshall Mike Uttaro says eight departments from Nassau responded to the fires. However, they were not needed due to the work by Suffolk County Fire Rescue.
Uttaro also added that many things could have caused the fire, including a discarded cigarette or a camp fire.
The latest on fire potential
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Alex Calamia says conditions have improved since the start of the brush fire Saturday afternoon. When the brush fire started, wind gusts reached 43 mph at Westhampton Beach with sustained winds of 28 mph. Sunday was less breezy, but it was gusty with wind speeds of 32 mph. The air today is warmer and drier than Sunday, but it's not as dry as Saturday and wind speeds will be light. We anticipate wind speeds 10-15 mph most of the afternoon.
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