If a fire breaks out, having 27 fire departments and ambulance companies just down the road certainly helps. The Mastic Fire Department was celebrating its 100th Anniversary parade when a fire broke out in a shipping container at a local business along Montauk Highway.
With the street already closed for the parade, emergency crews had swift access, and the blaze was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported, though a malfunctioning fire hydrant sent water sweeping down Montauk Highway until it could be shut off. The flood did not affect the centennial celebration.
Officials praised the quick response and serendipitous timing. “We had departments on standby for this very reason, and the fire was put out pretty fast,” a fire official said.