Long Island brush fires injure firefighters as officials launch arson investigation
The fires, which ignited during the late morning and early afternoon hours on Saturday, appeared to be fueled by a combination of low humidity and gusty winds that reached speeds of up to 40 mph.
Westhampton Pines Fire continues to burn on Long Island
At least two firefighters have been injured and an arson investigation is underway on Long Island after a series of brush fires, now known as the Westhampton Pines Fire, continues to burn. Fox News National Correspondent CB Cotton has the latest from Suffolk County, New York.
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. – An arson investigation is underway after a series of brush fires on Long Island in New York injured at least two firefighters as flames consumed hundreds of acres in Suffolk County over the weekend.
The fires, which is now being called the Westhampton Pines Fire, ignited during the late morning and early afternoon hours on Saturday, and appeared to be fueled by a combination of low humidity and gusty winds that reached speeds of up to 40 mph.
Watch: Thick smoke fills the air as massive brush fire burns on Long Island
A video shared from New York shows thick black smoke filling the air over Sunrise Highway in Suffolk County as massive brush fires burn on Long Island on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Thick black smoke filled the sky and was visible as far away as Connecticut as the flames consumed vegetation and damaged at least two structures, destroying one of them.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency in Suffolk County as crews worked tirelessly to contain and extinguish the flames.
She confirmed that multiple state and local agencies had mobilized to combat the fires, with efforts coordinated to protect structures in the Pine Barrens area of Long Island.
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New York City firefighters battle brush fire in Brooklyn
Firefighters were able to gain the upper hand on a brush fire burning in Gerritsen Beach on Saturday.
"We are in close communication with local partners on Long Island to coordinate assistance and make sure they have the resources they need to protect their communities," Hochul said in a post on X.
In addition, Hochul said helicopters from the New York National Guard were providing air support.
According to information provided by Suffolk County Emergency Management officials to FOX News National Correspondent CB Cotton, at least two firefighters have been injured fighting the fires, but both have been listed in good condition.
While the exact cause of the brush fires remains unclear, authorities were quick to point out that there wasn’t any lightning in the region at the time, leaving only human causes as the primary source.
According to Cotton, an arson investigation is now underway. However, it's still too soon to say whether the fires were intentionally set.
Fortunately, due to the stiff northwesterly winds, smoke was largely carried offshore over the Atlantic Ocean, leading to few air quality concerns across the New York City metro.
Some of the smoke plumes were large enough to be seen on radar, with returns indicating that the some and ask were billowing over the Atlantic.
Official said that the mission on Sunday was to achieve 100% containment of the fires on Long Island, which have burned at least 600 acres in Westhampton, New York.
"There are hotspots being addressed in Eastport right now, but no visible fire in Westhampton per ground crews," Southampton Public Safety and Emergency Management Administrator Ryan Murphy said. "Aviation assets are going up right now to to a better check."
Murphy said the fire was about 80% contained as of Saturday night.
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Air quality reported to be in the "good" range around New York City. (AirNow)
The Empire State is not the only state grappling with brush fires; large swaths of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast have had similar bouts with flames.
The combination of dry vegetation, an intensifying drought and gusty winds has created an environment ripe for wildfires along the eastern seaboard, from southern New England through Florida.
Many communities in the region are experiencing conditions that range from "abnormally dry" to "extreme," which enhances the amount of vegetation available to fuel fires.
Meteorologists expect winds around the tri-state to remain elevated through the weekend, but moisture will return in the form of scattered rain showers on Sunday and higher humidity levels during the workweek.
The increased moisture should help firefighters gain a better handle on any uncontrolled fires and limit potential issues with smoke along Long Island.