Westhampton fire ‘100% knocked down’ as investigators search for its origin
Ninety fire departments and more than 600 emergency service personnel were on the scene as the fire raged.
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Fire officials say the Westhampton fire is 100% knocked down as investigators continue their search for the fire’s origin.
LIVE UPDATES: Fire emergency on eastern Long Island
Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers were in the Pine Barrens on Sunday extinguishing any remaining hotspots and working to establish a full perimeter. Once that happens, the fire will be considered contained.
Fire officials say there are no more visible flames from the eastern Long Island fires.
The Westhampton Beach Fire Department and Suffolk Fire Rescue Emergency Services told News 12 that four separate fires burned about 400 acres.
The first fire started in Center Moriches, then East Moriches, then Eastport. The biggest by far was Westhampton Beach, where crews are still working on containment and watching for smoldering hot spots. Crews are dumping dirt on them to make sure they’re totally out.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine says high winds drove the fire that started Saturday at 1 p.m.
“We are concerned because the winds are still blowing. That it might spark up again and we have people out all over the place,” said Romaine.
Officials say the fire jumped County Road 31 near Gabreski Airport, damaging two commercial buildings.
Earlier, Brookhaven Town reported that a residential structure was destroyed but it has since been withdrawn.
"There was an email communication between firefighters and county officials. It contained an error that a house had burned down. No house has been burned down," read a statement from the town.
Two firefighters were hurt. One had burns on his face and one has a head injury. Both were treated and released from hospitals.
Ninety fire and EMS agencies responded. More than 600 emergency service personnel were on the scene as the fire raged.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said that 25 detectives are working to find the origin of the fire and will be interviewing 911 callers.
“It’s too early to tell if this fire started naturally or if there was a nefarious origin. We should know if in a couple of days,” he said.
As of 10 p.m., fire officials said the Westhampton fire is 60% contained. Crews will take a break from treating hot spots overnight and return on Monday.
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