Crews were battling several brush fires on New York’s Long Island Saturday.
The fire started around 1 p.m. in Center Moriches, then spread to East Moriches, Eastport and Westhampton, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
The fires in Center Moriches, East Moriches and Eastport have been extinguished, and the fire in Westhampton is 50% contained.
One firefighter suffered burns and was taken to a local hospital. Officials say he “is doing OK.”
Two commercial buildings were damaged, including one on airport property.
Sunrise Highway is shut down past exit 58, along with Speonk Riverhead Road, officials say.
Officials say no residents are currently in the line of fire, and if that changes, emergency responders will call or go door-to-door to inform impacted residents.
Governor issues State of Emergency for Suffolk County brush fires
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a State of Emergency in response to the fires.
She said in a statement Saturday afternoon that she had spoken with Romaine and “informed him that the State of New York is here to provide any resources and support he needs.”
Hochul said that the New York National Guard had been deployed to provide air support, along with personnel from the “Office of Emergency Management, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Parks and the New York State Police.”
“Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to keep Long Islanders safe,” Hochul said.
The CBS News New York First Alert Weather Team said ongoing winds, along with very low levels of humidity, were creating an increased risk of wildfire development throughout the weekend.
CBS News New York
Stay with CBS News New York for the latest on this developing story.
Carolyn Gusoff
contributed to this report.
