Wildfires break out on Long Island, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul declares state of emergency

NEW YORK — Wildfires blazed Saturday afternoon in the Hamptons as strong winds and dry conditions kept one fire burning, Long Island officials said.

Four fires had burned in an area that was around 3 miles by 1 mile near Westhampton along a New York highway, Suffolk County officials said. The fires closed a portion of the Sunrise Highway and a service road in the area, the state Department of Transportation said on social media. The area is part of New York's Hamptons region, on the eastern end of Long Island. It's unclear what caused the fires.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency. In a statement, she said the state National Guard is providing air support by helicopter and coordinating with local law enforcement.

"The winds will keep the embers alive, and we have to worry every day that this fire will start again,” County Supervisor Ed Romaine said in a news briefing.

At least two commercial buildings partially burned, including one near the Francis S. Gabreski county airport, Rudy Sunderman, commissioner of the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, said in a news briefing. One firefighter was injured with burns to the face and taken to Stony Brook University Hospital's Burn Center, on Long Island.

Three fires had been extinguished while one fire was burning at 50% containment Saturday evening, Sunderman said. There was no indication of when the fire would be contained.

There is no threat to homes at this time, officials said. Fires burned close to roads and drivers, and smoke could be seen for miles, as images to social media showed.

In a local emergency declaration, Southhampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore said dry weather and low humidity, along with damage to woodland caused by a southern pine beetle infestation, are “exacerbating the conditions for dangerous wildfires."

"Such conditions threaten and/or imperil the public safety of the citizens of the Town of Southampton due to these active wildfires and the continued elevated threat of extreme wildfire possibility for our area," she said.

Early Saturday morning, the National Weather Service office in New York warned of elevated fire risk. On social media, NWS said low humidity and wind gusts between 30 and 35 mph “will create an elevated risk for fire spread.” NWS urged “extreme caution” with any potential ignition sources, including machinery, cigarettes and matches. “Any fires may spread quickly.”

Around the time the Long Island fire started on Saturday afternoon, New York City firefighters responded to a brush fire burning against waterfront in Brooklyn, nearly 70 miles west of the Long Island fire. Fire engines, boats and a helicopter extinguished the fire, FDNY said in an email.

In an interview with News 12, Gov. Hochul said air quality was a concern as well.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

(This story was updated to include video.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wildfires break out on Long Island. NY state emergency declared