1995: Fires Rage Through the Pine Barrens
In August and September 1995, devastating fires raged across Long Island’s pine barrens for 13 days. Extreme drought conditions and gusting winds of up to 20 m.p.h. contributed to the ferocity of the blaze. More than 6,800 acres of forest were charred in Westhampton, Rocky Point, Calverton, and Medford, with a state of emergency in effect from August 24 until September 5. Nearly every fire department in Nassau and Suffolk Counties responded, along with several New York City departments and 32 federal, state, and local government agencies. Forty-nine firefighters were injured, none seriously. One house and five fire trucks were destroyed, and nine other houses plus the Westhampton train station were damaged. On October 1, an estimated 32,000 spectators turned out to thank firefighters with a Heroes Parade in Westhampton. An Air Force plane is shown here dropping water on the fire in an August 27, 1995 photo.
This is a reproduction of an article and photo that was featured in Newsday on August 27, 1995. Article written by Newsday's Cynthia Blair.
