Brush fires erupt on Long Island
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By Gabrielle Fahmy Published March 8, 2025, 4:03 p.m. ET
Wildfires have created a frightening scene on Long Island's East End, prompting evacuations and shutting down the main route to the wealthy Hamptons as massive clouds of ominous black smoke, which could be seen for miles, billowed into the air.
The situation is "catastrophic," one resident told The Post.
7Smoke seen from County Road 51 in Manorville. Lisa Marie/Facebook7Smoke from the fires is visible for miles. Lisa Marie/Facebook
Lisa DiMiceli, of Manorville, owns a pet boarding business and said West Hampton residents told her they were being evacuated and asked her to take their dogs as they fled.
"It looked like a nuclear bomb. It's not under control at all. It was very scary," she said.
Flames and black smoke rose over County Road 51 just to the north in nearby Manorville, when the fire jumped across the highway shortly before 2 p.m.
The fire reached "probably about 100 feet head, if not more, but the wind is what really took it off," DiMicelli said, adding "Right now the helicopter is still going over our house with big canisters and whatnot of water to drop it on the fire."
The smoke dominated the horizon and highways as panicked Long Islanders took to social media to share videos and images, including one which showed the dense cloud billowing up into the sky.
The fire was "massive," according to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, who posted video from a helicopter showing the scope of the blaze and the resulting smoke.
"Video from above of the massive wildfire in the pine barrens. Thank you to all of the firefighters and first responders fighting this blaze," Panico wrote on Facebook.
7Plumes of smoke seen from Sunrise Highway. Steve Hickey/Facebook7One resident told The Post that it is "catastrophic." Citizen7The smoke rose right by Country Road 51 in nearby Manorville. Dan Panico/Facebook7Eastport Fire Department told The Post the fire started right after 1.pm. Saturday. secretsofpowerfulwomen/Tiktok7Gov. Kathy Hochul posted on X, "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."
The fires also appeared in the Pine Barrens and near Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton, shutting Sunrise Highway in both directions at Exit 58, authorities said.
High winds and low humidity set the stage for the flames to erupt, according to the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, which warned earlier Saturday about the risk of fires.
Several fire departments were responding in a "large-scale coordinated countywide effort," Southampton emergency management told Newsday.
The fire started just after 1 p.m. Saturday, the Eastport Fire Department told The Post.
"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," Gov. Hochul posted on X.
Engines and brush trucks from towns in neighboring Nassau County are being sent to assist, including from Elmont, Plainview, Manhasset, Uniondale, East Norwich, Glenwood and Jericho, according to sources.
This is a developing story.
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Long Island is burning...
Well if the site goes dark, you will know why.
Strong winds are driving the fires...
Any idea where the fires originated from?...
West Hampton...
Canada. It is a preemptive strike
You can say that, LOL!
The pine barrens along the Long Island Expressway. It happens periodically because the pine trees need fire for the pine cone seeds to come out and young trees to grow.
Goodness...
Badness...
No doubt...
The worst part is it seems like the expressway might be very damaged. The homes are far away by design.