555 Is Clear for Landing

The Suffolk County Police Department’s medevac helicopter can land at the former 555 property in Amagansett, which is now owned by East Hampton Town, on a temporary basis.

Supervisor Larry Cantwell said last week that he authorized the use of the Montauk Highway property for the county’s emergency landings. The Amagansett Fire Department had requested the use of the field after pilots raised concerns about the safety of the longtime landing zone behind the firehouse.

That area has become “less than suitable” over the years because of the placement of a cellphone and radio communications tower and a wind turbine in the field, high-tension wires to the north, and tall tress that surround most of the field, according to Deputy Chief Kevin Fallon of the Suffolk police. The town-owned property to the east is about a quarter-mile away.

When the town board first discussed the request last week, Mr. Cantwell said he had to check if the property could be used to land emergency helicopters since it had been purchased with community preservation money. The town is figuring out what to do with the property long-term.

Dwayne Denton, the chief of the Amagansett Fire Department, said this week that he was grateful to the town for the approval. Just last week, the department had to use East Hampton Airport instead. He also said he is trying to arrange a meeting with the county police to see if the helicopter could, once again, land behind headquarters if some of the trees were removed.