Editor's note: This video originally aired on March 8.
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) -- A brush fire that broke out on Long Island Saturday is now 22% contained, fire officials said.
The fire is 100% knocked down, meaning all visible flames have been put out, and it has not grown since 6 a.m. Sunday, according to Rudy Sunderland, Commissioner of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services. Containment refers to the perimeter created by firefighters around the fire so that it cannot grow any larger.
"The fire is under control and we’re working hard on full containment,” said Amanda Lefton, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Fire officials remain concerned about potential growth as strong winds continue to blow Sunday. Gusty winds up to 40 miles per hour were expected to last through Sunday evening, Hochul said Saturday. It means any fire that sparks will spread fast.
Suffolk County remains under a state of emergency, which Gov. Kathy Hochul declared Saturday evening. The fire risk in the region will remain high through Monday, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation.
“We are concerned because the winds are still going that it might spark up again," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. “[But] this fire is not the threat that it was yesterday."
Four brush fires started burning around 1 p.m., starting in Center Moriches, East Moriches, Eastport and Westhampton, officials said at a news conference Saturday. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Three of the four fires were put out Saturday night, officials said. The Westhampton fire is controlled but not entirely contained, fire officials said.
Editor's note: This story was edited to reflect the correct containment of the fire.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
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