DEC Seeks Public Assistance to Combat Recent Outbreak of Pine Barrens Forest Fires
Following the occurrence of five forest fires on Federal, State, Suffolk County and private lands since mid-April, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers are working with Suffolk County, Brookhaven, and Riverhead fire marshals and Brookhaven National Lab firefighters to deploy new technologies to investigate the potential source/s of these incidents.
State and local officials are asking anyone with knowledge of these fires to contact DEC’s Office of Public Protection at (518) 408-5858 or the Suffolk County, Brookhaven, or Riverhead fire marshal’s offices.
Besides damaging habitat, uncontrolled fires have the potential to impact nearby residences and pose a risk to volunteer firefighters.
In total the five fires have burned approximately 167 acres in Long Island’s Pine Barrens region.
For more information on preventing wildfires, please visit DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/58519.html .
No information from the author.
