A brush fire along the north side of Montauk Highway on a remote stretch of Napeague was reported on Wednesday afternoon and burned an area roughly the size of a football field before being extinguished, according to East Hampton Town.
Police Officer Ian Gerken was the first to report the blaze, after seeing it between Shipwreck Drive and Dunes Lane while on patrol. Fire departments from Amagansett, Montauk, and East Hampton arrived on the scene with support from town police and fire marshals.
Montauk Highway was temporarily closed to traffic between Napeague Meadow Road and Bluff Road, with vehicles routed toward Abram's Landing Road, and the Long Island Rail Road temporarily suspended service between Amagansett and Montauk. The roadway was reopened 6:19 p.m., approximately two hours after the fire was reported.
The Police Department deployed a drone equipped with thermal imaging technology to help fire crews detect and extinguish remaining hot spots. Metropolitan Transportation Authority fire marshals joined their counterparts from the town to investigate the fire's cause.
According to a statement from Town Hall, Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez was in communication throughout the incident with the offices of Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senator Chuck Schumer, State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, and Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker. The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, and State Parks police were also notified and involved in the response. Regional officials deployed a 24-hour fire watch starting on Wednesday night.
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Amagansett, Montauk, and East Hampton Fire Departments, the East Hampton Town Police Department, our town fire marshals, and all the emergency personnel who acted swiftly to contain this fire," Ms. Burke-Gonzalez said in a statement issued on Wednesday. "I especially want to recognize Police Officer Gerken, who was the first to report the fire while on patrol. This was a coordinated and professional response that protected both people and property. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who answered the call.”
Residents and visitors are encouraged to remain alert and to report any signs of smoke or fire by calling 911.
