Brush fire burns 4 acres of Melville park
A brush fire in Melville's West Hills County Park. (April 8, 2012) Credit: Handout
Firefighters needed nearly three hours to extinguish a raging brush fire that burned across four acres of West Hills County Park in Melville overnight into Monday morning, a volunteer fire official said.
The fire started at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, about 1,000 feet from the Northern State Parkway, said Jason Bernfeld, an assistant chief with the Melville Fire Department.
"The biggest problem is that the terrain at the park is very hilly and steep, as well as being a thickly bent-wooded area," Bernfeld said, "so that means it's labor intensive for the guys."
The fire was under control in about an hour, and then firefighters covered the area for most of the next two hours, sometimes using all-terrain vehicles, to put out embers and small fires and transport firefighters and equipment, Bernfeld said.
"The ATVs also were used to get guys back to some areas and to scout areas, making sure the fire was out," he said.
Four firefighters had minor injuries -- smoke inhalation, bruises and bumps, Bernfeld said. Two were treated at the scene; two were treated and released from a nearby hospital.
More than 100 firefighters responded from the Melville, Dix Hills, Huntington, Huntington Manor, Cold Spring Harbor, Deer Park, Wyandanch, West Islip, Bethpage and Plainview departments.
The East Farmingdale department responded to a call for standby.
Bernfeld said 15 trucks also were used.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
