Backyard s'mores named cause of massive Long Island brush fires, investigators say
Dozens of investigators tasked with determining the origin of Saturday's brush fires on Long Island have linked the blazes to a backyard in Manorville.
Officials said Monday that the fires were sparked accidentally, after people in a backyard on N Cozine Road were attempting to make s'mores. The people starting a fire tried to use cardboard to ignite the flame, Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said.
Strong weekend winds helped whip the embers across the east end to East Moriches, Eastport and finally Westhampton, where the largest of the fires took root. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said downed trees and 35 mph winds fueled the fast-growing fires.
The Westhampton Pines Fire burned an estimated 600 acres over the weekend before fire personnel managed to knock it down. Within 24 hours, teams of firefighters from across the county had managed to contain the bulk of the brush fire and manage its hot spots.
New York's governor triggered a burn ban for the area. She issued a prohibition on most types of outside camping, cooking and warming fires in Long Island, as well as parts of the Hudson Valley amid continued dry conditions. Backyard fire pits, small campfires and small cooking fires in contained conditions were exempt.
The ban will be in place until an annual statewide prohibition on outdoor fires starts March 16, according to a statement from her office.
Romaine thanked firefighters who worked through the night, adding that more than 80 volunteer fire departments battled the blaze. Two firefighters were hospitalized for injuries and released.
Two commercial buildings were affected — one has been 'fairly destroyed' and another was significantly damaged, according to officials.
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The Independent
10-03-2025
- The Independent
Long Island brush fires were caused by a resident trying to make s'mores
Saturday brush fires in Long Island have been linked to a backyard s'mores session in Manorville, New York, according to investigators. Officials said Monday that the fires were sparked accidentally after a group of people tried to make the sweet treats s'mores — Graham cracker 'sandwiches' of chocolate and toasted marshmallows — in their backyard. The group reportedly used cardboard to ignite their fire to toast the marshmallows, according to Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. "The individual making s'mores was unable to get the fire lit due to the winds, but they used cardboard to initially light that fire," Catalina said at a news conference on Monday. "The person subsequently discovers that the fire does ignite in the backyard area and all goes up in fire." Strong winds over the weekend whipped through the backyard and carried embers from the fire east toward Westhampton, where a large fire occurred, according to NBC News. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said that recently downed trees and the 35 mph winds helped to fuel the fires into significant blazes. The Westhampton Pines Fire burned approximately 600 acres over the weekend before fire responders managed to contain the flames. According to Catalina, the initial fire was contained by 10:30 a.m., but by then the embers had already been scattered east, where they ignited the brush fire near Westhampton. "It was initially reported that there were four separate fires, or reported at one time," Catalina said. "All of those fires are in a direct line with the strong northwest wind that was blowing that day. And it is believed that the embers from each fire traveled and continuously started more fires. So that is the operating theory right now,' he added. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a burn ban for the area in the wake of the fires. She prohibited most types of outside camping, cooking and warming fires in Long Island and parts of the Hudson Valley, citing the ongoing dry conditions in the region. Backyard fire pits, small campfires, and small cooking fires in contained units are exempt from the ban. The burn prohibition will remain in place until an annual fire ban on outdoor fires starts on March 16, according to Hochul's office. Only two buildings were damaged in the fire, with one being "fairly destroyed," according to fire officials. Another was significantly damaged, officials said.
NBC News
10-03-2025
- NBC News
Backyard s'mores named cause of massive Long Island brush fires, investigators say
Dozens of investigators tasked with determining the origin of Saturday's brush fires on Long Island have linked the blazes to a backyard in Manorville. Officials said Monday that the fires were sparked accidentally, after people in a backyard on N Cozine Road were attempting to make s'mores. The people starting a fire tried to use cardboard to ignite the flame, Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. Strong weekend winds helped whip the embers across the east end to East Moriches, Eastport and finally Westhampton, where the largest of the fires took root. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said downed trees and 35 mph winds fueled the fast-growing fires. The Westhampton Pines Fire burned an estimated 600 acres over the weekend before fire personnel managed to knock it down. Within 24 hours, teams of firefighters from across the county had managed to contain the bulk of the brush fire and manage its hot spots. New York's governor triggered a burn ban for the area. She issued a prohibition on most types of outside camping, cooking and warming fires in Long Island, as well as parts of the Hudson Valley amid continued dry conditions. Backyard fire pits, small campfires and small cooking fires in contained conditions were exempt. The ban will be in place until an annual statewide prohibition on outdoor fires starts March 16, according to a statement from her office. Romaine thanked firefighters who worked through the night, adding that more than 80 volunteer fire departments battled the blaze. Two firefighters were hospitalized for injuries and released. Two commercial buildings were affected — one has been 'fairly destroyed' and another was significantly damaged, according to officials.
NBC News
09-03-2025
- NBC News
Brush fire in Long Island that scorched 400 acres is 22% contained
A brush fire in Long Island, New York, that has burned through 400 acres and prompted a response from 80 fire departments and 600 personnel, is now 22% contained, according to Suffolk County officials. The Westhampton Pines Fire, which erupted Saturday afternoon is fully knocked down, which means the fire is no longer visible, Suffolk County Fire Coordinator Rudy Sunderman said in a news briefing Sunday morning. Despite the progress, weather conditions and air quality remain key concerns, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at the briefing. 'We are concerned — because the winds are still blowing — that it might spark up again, and we have people out all over the place,' Romaine said. Investigators, including dozens of detectives, are working to determine the fire's origin, but it remains unclear if it was natural or caused by foul play. Two people were injured in the fires, including a firefighter who sustained second-degree burns to his face, Romaine said. Two commercial buildings were impacted — one has been 'fairly destroyed' and another was significantly damaged, according to officials. Romaine said he received calls from President Donald Trump's team, Gov. Kathy Hochul, as well as Senator Chuck Schumer following the eruption of the fires Saturday. "Sometimes we forget that in times of crisis, times of danger, Americans can come together and can address problems," Romaine said. "So, my thank you, particularly to the volunteers that all showed up that helped us contain this fire." Four wildfires were burning in Suffolk County Saturday. The fires erupted around 1 p.m. — first in the Center Moriches, then in the East Moriches, followed by the Pine Barrens and Westhampton, Sunderman said on Sunday. The fires have burned around 600 to 700 acres in total, according to Romaine. Hochul declared a state of emergency in the county Saturday amid brush fires in the Pine Barrens, she said on X. The brush fires erupted in Long Island, and Brooklyn, Saturday as strong 30 to 35 mph winds and low relative humidity in New York created an elevated fire risk. The region impacted by the risk — southeastern New York state, northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut — included Long Island and all five of New York City's boroughs. On Sunday, fire weather conditions continue to improve for most in the Northeast, with lower wind gusts of 15 to 30 mph expected. An Elevated Fire Risk continues for parts of the Mid-Atlantic, including Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Baltimore, through the afternoon. Conditions will continue to improve across the Northeast on Monday as winds calm to around 5 to 15 mph.
