The last of the wind-driven wildfires that had stretched hundreds of acres across eastern Long Island, prompting the New York governor to declare a state of emergency, was extinguished by Sunday morning, according to local and state officials.
The fire, in the Westhampton area, was the largest of four that broke out on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday, firefighters had suppressed the flames and contained the blaze around roughly a quarter of its perimeter to prevent it from spreading, officials said at a news conference on Sunday. The wind gusts that fueled the flames on Saturday had slowed to 25 miles per hour on Sunday.
But strong air currents combined with dry conditions in the Long Island Pine Barrens could yet pose a problem, said Lewis Scott, the second assistant chief of the Westhampton Beach Fire Department.
“The weather is still a very significant concern and threat to us. We are hoping for some moisture to come in,” Chief Scott said at the news conference. “It’s not looking like that in the very near future.”
Fire danger risk also remained high in the Hudson Valley on Sunday, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The cause of the Long Island wildfire is still under investigation, the authorities said. Detectives from the Suffolk County Police Department have interviewed 911 callers, deployed drones and flown in helicopters to determine whether arson played a role.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.