c-series don 9,374 #1 Posted March 9 It started Friday night around ten PM with a large house fire. I didn’t get home until around three AM. Then yesterday around 12:30 PM we got called out to a huge brush fire approximately 20 miles away. We could clearly see the smoke from our firehouse and knew it was going to be a long day. While working in my garage I heard the neighboring fire departments getting called out on my scanner for multiple brush fires. I knew I should get ready for the call and before I started heading for my truck my pager went off. Our fire department sent two brush trucks, a pumper and a 6200 gallon tractor trailer tanker which I drove. Over 90 fire departments from across Long Island came, plus every law enforcement agency known to man! This was one of the largest wildfires I have been to in my 37 years as a volunteer firefighter. And the first time I’ve in person seen the use of helicopters to help extinguish the fires. I must say that they made a huge difference, three Blackhawk helicopters each carrying 660 gallon buckets. The fire was all around the airbase where these helicopters are stationed. I’m not sure how many acres burned but I know it was a lot. The fire was pretty much out around 8pm due to the diligence and professionalism of these men and women. Unfortunately at this time it appears as arson (although I’m not certain) because 4 separate fires were reported within a few miles of each other within a very short timeframe. Also unfortunately my friend who makes driveway entrance gates lost his shop in the fire. Luckily out of the hundreds of people that responded I heard of only one injury. 6 1 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,397 #2 Posted March 9 It was on the news up here and that's the first thing I thought too, arson. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 42,330 #3 Posted March 9 We 've had our share of fires around here.4 or 5 homes a couple of weeks ago and a couple of barns this week. Of course last month we lost almost an entire downtown of the small village just south of me and the same dept lost their ex Chief to a fatal auto accident a couple weeks back too. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brockport Bill 1,818 #4 Posted March 9 Don: Just curious -- in your part of Long Island, as well as the first responders for this fire, -- approximately what percent are volunteer versus paid full time professional? Bill 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,889 #5 Posted March 9 I was a volunteer fireman from 1966 until 1980. Those pictures are all too familiar to me in the springtime. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 9,374 #6 Posted March 9 @Brockport Bill All the firefighters are volunteers, however on the EMS side of things some of the chiefs,EMT’s and paramedics are paid. My department doesn’t have an ambulance or run EMS, that’s a separate entity. We are entirely volunteer. 3 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 2,080 #7 Posted March 10 I'm glad you're okay. Sorry to hear about your friend's shop. Hopefully he gets back on his feet soon. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blasterdad 2,999 #8 Posted March 10 When I saw this on the news my first thought was of you, I'm glad everyone got it under control. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Streetrodchev 842 #9 Posted March 10 Stay safe out there, brother. I have 24 years and counting with Hustisford Volunteer Fire Department. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 57,532 #10 Posted March 10 I also saw this on the national news and figured Don would be involved, glad you are safe and well. When I was a volunteer fire fighter we always feared barn fires, once the hay and straw begins burning about the only thing ou can do is cover nearby exposures so it won't spread. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 50,517 #11 Posted March 10 (edited) 19 hours ago, c-series don said: brush fires That time of year 'till green up... be careful out there. https://smokeybear.com/ Edited March 10 by WHX?? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Streetrodchev 842 #12 Posted March 10 We were called out this morning. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 9,374 #13 Posted March 10 This was the view looking across the Long Island Sound from Connecticut. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brockport Bill 1,818 #14 Posted March 11 Don - any local news updates yet on if arson or how started? Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 9,374 #15 Posted March 11 (edited) @Brockport Bill There were actually 3-4 separate fires going at the beginning. Today they said that it started from someone trying to light a fire in their backyard by using cardboard so they could make S’Mores. They said embers traveled from the original fire and started the others. Now obviously this does happen, but given the location of the other fires that started I’m not sure I’m buying the S’Mores thing? 🤔Also I can’t believe that someone living on the edge of a couple thousand acre tinder dry pine tree forest would be dumb enough to light a fire on a day when the wind was blowing 40+ miles per hour. But then again you never know….. Edited March 11 by c-series don Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,964 #16 Posted March 11 We don't have the same conditions as you guys over there, nowhere near as much brush and trees. And not as dry most of the time. This is perhaps a very good thing, because last year we had youths throughout the county setting fires on grassland to satisfy a Tik tok craze. Apparently they film the fires they set and put them online as a challenge to other idiots to try and do better. Speaking to a hard pressed fire officer he said they set multiple small fires as they know there are only 4 men to a pump. So if they set six at least two of them will have to be ignored and grow into something bigger. They can only send one pump to grass fires, even the big ones. The stupidity of people to set fires just for kicks is astounding. You have to hope that if their house burns the brigade will be out on a grass fire somewhere. Mick 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites