Long Island wildfires: Residents flee as ‘fast moving’ fires rage | World | News
Residents in the Hamptons have been forced to evacuate after wildfires broke out. There are also multiple reports of wildfires along the Sunrise Highway, Long Island.
Southampton Town Police Department said Sunrise Highway east of exit 62 is closed. “Please stay clear of the areas,” Det. Sgt. Gina Laferrera wrote in an email to Newsday. “Additional road closures may occur due to the ever changing situation.”
Locals recounted how they had to evacuate at barely a moment’s notice, after being informed of the unfolding emergency.
Hamptons resident Tanya Layburn told Newsday she received a call about the blaze, before escaping with her children Randy, 25, and Barbara, 28.
“We almost didn’t know if we were gonna get out of there,” she said. “We just backed it up and got the hell out of there.”
Governor Kathy Hochul said the state is ready to provide resources if needed and several agencies have already been deployed to assist.
“The New York National Guard has already begun providing air support by helicopter and is coordinating with local law enforcement,” she said.
Weather experts warning high winds could make the situation worse, as firefighters battle to bring the fires under control.
“The main reason for the risk is just because we have some pretty strong winds coming in from the northwest, gusting up to 35 miles per hour,” weather service meteorologist Bryan Ramsey told Newsday.
“Whenever you tie that in with low humidity it can lead to an elevated risk for fire spread.
“We’ll have a minimum humidity around 30 percent… So, we urge people to use extreme caution with potential ignition sources.”
Reports suggest the fire is spreading quickly and that many buildings are now ablaze.
A volunteer firefighter with the social media moniker LI_Weather516 posted to their X channel:”Mutiple structures are on fire now as well. A pool company, and a storage facility are just some.”
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