An aerial view of a wildfire burning on Long Island on Saturday, March 8. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Posted on 03/11/2025 9:08:25 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A family attempting to make s’mores in their backyard accidentally sparked several brush fires that burned hundreds of acres on Long Island, authorities said.
An aerial view of a wildfire burning on Long Island on Saturday, March 8. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
An investigation by Suffolk County Police Arson Section detectives determined that high winds spread embers from a Manorville backyard on Cozine Road after the family attempted to start a fire for s’mores, the agency announced Monday, March 10.
“It’s believed strong winds spurred additional fires from embers leading to the brush fires,” Suffolk County Police said. Detectives are continuing to speak with witnesses and investigate tips, the agency added.
A massive fire erupted south of the Sunrise Highway in Center Moriches at around 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and rapidly spread due to 35 mph winds, as Daily Voice reported. Flames quickly moved to East Moriches, Eastport, and then Westhampton, igniting a massive blaze just north of Gabreski Airport.
The Westhampton Pines Fire burned an estimated 600 acres, prompting more than 90 different fire departments, EMS agencies, and the National Guard to respond, ABC7 reports.
The last of four wildfires were fully contained by Sunday morning, March 9, a spokesperson for Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. Fire crews were continuing to monitor smaller smoldering areas to prevent any potential flare-ups.
At its peak, the wildfires stretched two miles long and 2.5 miles wide, Romaine said. Two firefighters were injured, including one who suffered a second-degree burn to their face, fire officials told ABC7.
Saturday’s fires prompted Gov. Kathy Hochul to issue a State of Emergency and outdoor burn ban through Sunday, March 16. The ban was in effect for Suffolk and Nassau counties, as well as the counties of Richmond, Kings, Queens, Bronx, New York, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, and Ulster.
Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid any potential ignition sources.
HOW THE HELL did they START SEVERAL FIRES?? SEVERAL??? hmmmmmmmmm
Bat to human combustion?
Embers.
Smells like BS.
Because one fire wasn’t enough they wanted smore.
According to the article, "high winds spread embers from a Manorville backyard on Cozine Road after the family attempted to start a fire for s’mores"
Only you can start several fires while cooking s’mores, only you.
Embers carried by strong winds can start fires miles from the source. It happens in the west all the time, where strong winds are more common.
Most wildfires these days are started by idiots like the s'more maker. If I could wave a magic wand, I'd have a one-year mandatory prison term for jackwads like him.
I grew up in SoCal and had fire safety drummed into my head from several sources. I was surprised to learn that people from other parts of the country weren’t as obsessive about fire safety. As a teenager I was once called a ‘Boy Scout’ in Idaho because I insisted on completely drowning out a fire before leaving it.
Microwave takes seconds
The joke I heard was that the three biggest causes of fires are men, women, and children.
Lol
Hope the “family” had the $50 million umbrella coverage for idiocy.
I’m not buying it
Totally believable!
Starting a fire in high winds is a stupid thing to do, regardless of the reason.
Who knows where the Arson Investigator stands - could be covering something up.
It’s not like this is the first time someone made smores, we haven’t had a big fire on Long Island in 30 years
Let's go out and make s'mores!
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