A series of brush fires that scorched more than 600 acres on Long Island over the weekend may have been sparked by an attempt to cook s'mores in a backyard fire pit, officials said Monday. The fires, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, prompted a massive emergency response from more than 90 fire departments and emergency crews, with firefighters working into Sunday to bring the blazes under control.
Officials said the fires began in Center Moriches and Manorville around 9 a.m. Saturday, when a resident attempted to light a fire in their backyard despite high winds. When the fire failed to start, the individual used cardboard as an accelerant, which ignited and spread to the yard. Though the initial fire was extinguished, embers likely sparked three additional fires along Sunrise Highway, officials said.
The second fire was reported at 12:57 p.m. just an eighth of a mile away. A third fire ignited minutes later on Chatman Boulevard, followed by a fourth blaze about a quarter-mile from County Road 11. "All of the fires are in a direct line with the strong north wind," officials said, adding that while the investigation is ongoing, authorities "strongly feel that it was accidental."
State of Emergency Declared on Long Island Near New York - Forest Inferno
Flames are spreading at a speed of up to 56 km/h, according to ABC. pic.twitter.com/GcNvsWN1c1 — RT_India (@RT_India_news) March 9, 2025
The fires prompted New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency in Southampton, Suffolk County. She also implemented a temporary burn ban for Long Island, New York City, and parts of the Hudson Valley, which will remain in effect through March 16, when the statewide burn ban begins. "Given the dry conditions and gusty winds, we are taking every precaution to prevent further fires," Hochul said in a statement.
Firefighters battled the flames through Sunday, ultimately containing 80% of the largest blaze, the Westhampton Pines Fire, by late evening. "This fire isn't the threat that it was yesterday," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. At its peak, the fire response included 600 personnel, multiple aircraft, and support from the National Guard.
Two commercial structures were damaged, including one business that was "fairly destroyed," officials said. Mark Cirillo, the owner of AutoGate Systems Distributions, described watching the flames overtake his business. "Our paint shop and storage barn is ruined inside," he told NBC News, estimating losses in the thousands of dollars.
Two firefighters sustained injuries while combating the fires. One suffered second-degree burns to his face, while another was treated for a head injury. Both have since been released from the hospital.
The fires broke out in the Pine Barrens region, an area historically prone to wildfires. A similar blaze in 1995 devastated thousands of acres in the same vicinity. Officials noted that the Pine Barrens ecosystem is naturally adapted to fire, and while the damage is significant, they do not expect long-term ecological harm.
Four separate wildfires ignited across Suffolk County on Saturday, starting in Center Moriches and spreading east to East Moriches, Pine Barrens, and Westhampton. By Sunday night, only the Westhampton fire remained active, though it was no longer spreading.
