A thick blanket of smoke has engulfed New York's Long Island as wildfires force evacuation of a military base and closure of a major highway. A state of emergency has been declared by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Advertisment

“I am issuing a State of Emergency as Suffolk County fights brush fires in the Pine Barrens. I have spoken to Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine and offered any necessary state resources,” she wrote in an X post.

Also read | Aurora alert! Northern lights as far as New York might dazzle skies. When to watch

Firefighters battle blaze

Advertisment

According to the state governor, the New York National Guard deployed multiple Black Hawk helicopters loaded with 660-gallon buckets of water to control the fires.

In a statement, the governor said, “We are deploying resources as quickly as possible, and I have mobilized our agencies, the National Guard and the State Police to provide air and ground support to ensure we keep our Long Islanders safe.”

Also read | WATCH: Man who climbed Big Ben tower with Palestinian flag comes down after 16 hours

Advertisment

According to Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine, the fire crews in Suffolk County responded to at least three major bushfires on the East End. By Saturday (March 8) evening, the Westhampton fire was about 80 per cent contained, he added.

The blaze damaged two commercial structures and injured a firefighter, who suffered a second-degree burn to his face, according to Romaine. 

Also read | WATCH | Pro-Ukraine protesters chased JD Vance while he was with his 3-year-old daughter

Several local roads and highways, including a section of the Sunrise Highway, have been shut down due to fires.

Southampton residents have been advised to avoid going outdoors for the next 24 hours due to high winds and danger due to wildfires. According to Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, there was a heightened risk of the fire spreading to dry conditions and strong winds.

Also read | Anti-Musk protests erupt at Tesla dealerships across US, nine arrested in New York

Videos emerge on social media 

People have been sharing several videos of the wildfires on social media, showing scary visuals.