Latest news with #WesthamptonPinesFire
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
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.
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Climate
- 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.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
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 North Cozine Road were attempting to make s'mores. They were using cardboard to try to start a fire, 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. NYC congestion pricing has more support than ever as Trump deadline looms Kid's high-speed BMW joyride kills 2 in New Jersey, officials say Cuomo scandals cost NY taxpayers nearly $60 million in legal fees, comptroller says 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. Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a burn ban for the area, including 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 Sunday, according to a statement from her office. Romaine said more than 80 volunteer fire departments battled the blaze overnight. 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. This article was originally published on
NBC News
10-03-2025
- Climate
- 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.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Potential severe weather outbreak puts millions on alert this week
Welcome to the Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather. It's Monday, March 10, 2025. Start your day with everything you need to know about today's weather. You can also get a quick briefing of national, regional and local weather whenever you like with the FOX Weather Update podcast. Tens of millions of Americans from the Midwest to the Southeast are going to have another tense week as concerns grow that the U.S. could be rocked by another multiday severe weather outbreak. March typically marks the beginning of the active spring severe weather season, and this renewed risk comes after a deadly severe weather outbreak swept across the nation last week. This week, forecasters will monitor the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms as we approach the middle of the week and again as we get ready to welcome the weekend. An arson investigation is underway after a series of brush fires on Long Island in New York injured at least two firefighters as flames consumed hundreds of acres in Suffolk County over the weekend. The fires, which are now being called the Westhampton Pines Fire, ignited during the late-morning and early-afternoon hours on Saturday and appeared to be fueled by a combination of low humidity and gusty winds that reached speeds of up to 40 mph. Suffolk County officials said the fire was fully knocked down and 80% contained as of Sunday afternoon. A stunning video recorded during a recent eruptive episode of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano shows the moment hot gasses and lava swirl into the air, forming what is being described as a "lavanado." Scott Malis caught the dramatic display on video on Feb. 26, during the 11th eruptive episode of Kilauea's ongoing eruption that began in December. Here are a few more stories you might find interesting. Magnitude 4.1 earthquake shakes Los Angeles area Why the National Hurricane Center's forecast cone may look a little different this year Billions of buzzing cicadas will emerge across multiple states this spring Need more weather? Check your local forecast plus 3D radar in the FOX Weather app. You can also watch FOX Weather wherever you go using the FOX Weather app, at or on your favorite streaming article source: Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Potential severe weather outbreak puts millions on alert this week
