With a Red Flag fire warning in effect for Long Island due to a pervasive lack of rain, the state has called for a “Burn Ban” until the end of the month. The mandate comes as the largest wildfire in New York since 2008 burns in Orange County across the New Jersey line.
Gov. Kathy Hochul emphasized the urgency of the ban, noting that Long Island, like much of the state, has faced a year marked by erratic and insufficient rainfall. “The burn ban is crucial to safeguarding our communities and natural resources as we continue to experience these dry conditions,” the governor stated. The ban prohibits fires statewide for brush and debris disposal, uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking.
The National Weather Service put the region under a Red Flag Warning for fires due to the dry conditions and high winds over the weekend. “We ask residents to be extra cautious, do not burn leaves or recreational fires; always have a fire extinguisher on hand and quickly report any fires,” said Rudy Sunderman, commissioner of the country’s Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Department.
A quick-moving fire over the Veterans Day weekend burned approximately 20 acres of woodlands in the Riverhead-Baiting Hollow area. Over 125 firefighters from 18 departments worked for nearly 12 hours to contain it, and flare-ups required additional responses on Sunday, according to Sunderman, who noted that Suffolk Departments responded to 180 smaller brush fires over the last month. They presented a challenge to the volunteer companies due to dry conditions and high winds.
There was nearly no rain for Long Island in July, while October, historically a wet month, saw only .01 of an inch compared to its 3.9-inch average as measured at Islip MacArthur Airport. A dry November further elevated the region’s parched status, with the U.S. Drought Monitor classifying Suffolk as “Abnormally Dry.” These conditions have reduced groundwater and stream levels, prompting increased caution in water use and outdoor activities.
“What we don’t want to see is a repeat of the Sunrise Fire,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, a Medford Fire Commissioner, of the 1995 conflagration that burned nearly 7,000 acres, the worst in state history. “Wooded areas are extremely dry; we urge everyone to be very careful.”
With the dearth of precipitation, the Suffolk Water Authority has urged residents to step up their water-saving practices, such as limiting lawn irrigation and promptly fixing leaks. Alternatives such as mulching or composting are recommended for waste management instead of burning debris.
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is in charge of monitoring drought and fire conditions and enforcing penalties for violations of the ban, which start at $500 for a first offense.
Some relief may come midweek, as the Weather Service predicts a 60% chance of showers.
Suffolk sent firefighters from 20 departments to assist with the Jennings Creek/Sterling State Park Fire, located about half in New York and half in New Jersey. A state Parks Department employee lost his life responding to the blaze, officials reported. More than 275 emergency responders have turned out, including firefighters from 44 companies with 230 personnel, six law enforcement agencies with 28 staff members, and four EMS crews with 19 personnel, according to the governor’s office. Helicopters from the State Police and Division of Military and Naval Affairs are dropping hundreds of buckets of water on the flames.
For the state’s Fire Danger map and updates on the burn ban and drought status, go to dec.ny.gov.