Long Island Brush Fires Extinguished After New York Declares State of Emergency

People living in the areas impacted were advised to wear N95 masks when venturing outside.

Smoke from the fires in the Pine Barrens off Sunrise Highway on New York's Long Island, on March 8, 2025. Cheran Campbell/New York Air National Guard via AP

The brush fires that developed on Long Island on March 8 have been extinguished after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency to gather resources for suppressing the flames that had maintained momentum because of high winds.

Officials confirmed on Sunday that the fires had been knocked down, including the last remaining fire burning in the hamlet of Westhampton. Suffolk County Fire Coordinator Rudy Sunderman warned that forecast strong wind gusts of up to 30 mph meant the region remains vulnerable to additional fire outbreaks.