Long Island brush fires in eastern Suffolk
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NY authorities investigate Long Island blazes as fire threatens central US
Authorities on New York’s Long Island are investigating whether any of the wildfires that broke out over the weekend involved arson.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said there are 25 detectives working to identify the origin of the wind-fueled brush fires. The probe involves drones, helicopters and a review of everyone who called 911 about the blazes, he said.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of what happened,” he said, adding that investigators should have an answer to whether there was a “nefarious origin” in the coming days.
At least four wildfires erupted over the weekend and burned about 600 acres of land. By Sunday evening, the largest of the wildfires, which burned in the Pine Barrens, was 100% contained, officials said. The other fires were deemed under control.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency over the weekend and implemented a burn ban for Long Island. Two firefighters were injured while battling the blazes, including one firefighter who suffered burns to his face.
As investigators probed the origin of the wildfires on Long Island, officials in South Carolina arrested a woman they say started a blaze that triggered evacuations and swallowed over 2,000 acres of land near Myrtle Beach.
Alexandra Bialousow, 40, of Myrtle Beach, faces two charges related to accusations that she did not take proper precautions while burning debris in her backyard and negligently allowed the fire to spread well past her property line, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
The commission said witnesses reported seeing Bialousow start a fire in her backyard without “an appropriate water source readily available” and without “any garden tools on hand to control the fire.” As of Sunday, the fire was 55% contained, the commission said.
Nearly 85% of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans, whether unknowingly or intentionally, according to the National Parks Service. Common human causes include unattended campfires, the burning of debris, negligently discarding a cigarette or intentional acts of arson.
Much of the central U.S., including swaths of the northern Plains and parts of southern New Mexico, were under red flag warnings on Monday amid high winds, above average temperatures and low humidity.
The National Weather Service warned that winds as high as 65 mph in some parts of the Plains region, including the Dakotas, could quickly spread wildfires across dry lands. Much of the central U.S. is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The advisories also come as the Plains and Midwest regions experience warmer temperatures than usual, with daily highs up to 20 degrees above average for this time of year.
“Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread,” said the weather service in Boulder, Colorado. “Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.”
