(GoRealNewsNow.com) – Wildfires rage across Long Island, and now New York City has been declared in a state of emergency while local resources are struggling to contain the blaze.
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Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has issued a state of emergency declaration, with homes, businesses, and military installations threatened.
The rapidly spreading fire exposes yet another example of emergency mismanagement in a blue state.
Four brush fires erupted across Suffolk County, New York, consuming approximately 600 acres of land and forcing evacuations in multiple communities.
The fires, which began spreading rapidly due to high winds, prompted Governor Hochul to declare a state of emergency as flames threatened residential areas, a chemical factory, and an Amazon warehouse near the Pine Barrens region.
The state’s response has mobilized over 80 volunteer fire departments to combat the blazes, with three of the four fires now fully contained.
However, the largest fire in Westhampton remains only partially contained despite the deployment of Air National Guard helicopters dropping water on the flames.
The fires stretched approximately 2.5 miles along Sunrise Highway, forcing this major transportation artery to close.
Local officials have admitted they are battling with the emergency response.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine acknowledged the significant challenge presented by weather conditions, which could potentially hamper containment efforts despite the massive deployment of resources.
“Our biggest problem is the wind. It is driving this fire,” Romaine said.
Moreover, two commercial structures have already sustained damage, while two firefighters were hospitalized with injuries – including one with facial burns.
The fires also forced evacuations from a nearby military base adjacent to Francis S. Gabreski Airport, disrupting operations at a critical infrastructure facility.
While Suffolk County police are investigating the cause, questions remain about why these fires spread so rapidly before adequate resources could be deployed.
The county’s arson squad is actively interviewing witnesses and using drones in the investigation, though officials have stated that no evidence of arson has been found thus far.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of what happened,” promised Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.
The Town of Southampton has now warned residents against starting recreational fires due to the extreme risk, belatedly recognizing the dangerous conditions.
Meanwhile, as local fire crews and National Guard units have reportedly contained about 80% of the largest blaze, concerns persist about the potential for renewed outbreaks.
Governor Hochul’s state of emergency declaration comes as her administration faces other ongoing challenges, including rising crime rates and economic struggles across New York state.
Even though the emergency declaration allows for expedited resource deployment, many residents question why more preventative measures were not in place before the crisis escalated.
Authorities continue monitoring a smaller brush fire along Sunrise Highway, though no visible flames have been reported.
Officials remain on high alert as gusty wind conditions are expected to persist through Sunday evening, potentially complicating containment efforts as firefighters work to protect American homes and businesses from further destruction.
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