Brush fires have erupted in Long Island and near Brooklyn due to strong winds in New York creating an elevated risk of fire spread on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in Long Island’s Suffolk County amid multiple wildfires in the region. The fires have led to injuries and damaged structures, with resources from the National Guard and state agencies being deployed to assist firefighters on the ground.
The fires in Suffolk County have been attributed to gusty winds, dry conditions, and woodland damage caused by a Southern Pine Beetle infestation. Brooklyn also experienced a fire in Gerritsen Beach, which was controlled by early evening with no reported injuries. Portions of Sunrise Highway NY-27 and South Service Road were closed due to the fires.
The weather service issued wind advisories for the region, warning of gusts up to 30 mph and dry conditions until Monday. Around 7 million people in New England are under wind alerts. The cause of the fires is currently unknown, and there have been no reports of injuries related to them.
Local officials, including the town supervisors of Southampton and Brookhaven, have declared states of emergency due to the elevated threat of fires in the area. Multiple fire departments have been dispatched to assist with the response efforts in the affected communities.
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