Overview

• The Westhampton brush fire, the largest of several fires in Suffolk County, has been contained after burning over 600 acres across eastern Long Island.
• Firefighters are working to create fire breaks to prevent reignition, with containment efforts expected to continue into Monday if necessary.
• Suffolk County police have launched an arson investigation, deploying detectives, drones, and helicopters to determine the cause of the fire.
• Two commercial buildings sustained damage, but no residential structures were affected, and no evacuations were ordered during the incident.
• Environmental experts noted that the Pine Barrens, a fire-dependent ecosystem, is expected to recover naturally, with controlled burns planned to improve forest health in the future.