# Fires rage on Long Island as New York governor declares state of emergency

## New York

### State agencies responding around Pine Barrens, where homes, chemical factory and Amazon warehouse are at risk

**Associated Press**

**Sat 8 Mar 2025 17.59 EST**  
Last modified on Mon 10 Mar 2025 10.15 EDT

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### Rapid-Planned Brush Fires

State agencies responding around Pine Barrens, where homes, chemical factory, and Amazon warehouse are at risk.

**Kathy Hochul**, the state governor, declared a state of emergency and said state agencies were responding to the fires around the Pine Barrens, a wooded area that is home to commuter towns east of New York City.



In a photo provided by the New York air national guard, a view toward the Pine Barrens off Sunrise Highway on Long Island, on 8 March 2025.  
Photograph: Cheran Campbell/AP

### Evacuation and Fire Response

Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to keep Long Islanders safe.  
Hochul told local TV station News 12.

“Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to keep Long Islanders safe,” she said.

In her comments to News 12, Hochul declined to estimate the extent of the flames, saying only that they were growing rapidly.

Rough satellite data indicated that fire and smoke stretched roughly 2.5 miles (3km) along Sunrise Highway, according to ’s Fire Information for Resource Management System.

Police closed a section of the highway, which is a thoroughfare to the east end of Long Island.

### The National Guard

The fires raged near the Francis S Gabreski airport, from which the national guard launched at least one helicopter. Personnel at the base evacuated as a precautionary measure starting around 1.45pm, spokesperson Cheran Campbell said in a statement.

This article was amended on 9 March 2025 to correct the spelling of Cheran Campbell’s surname.

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