Ridge-Manorville fire update

Latest updates on the Ridge-Manorville fire:

Fire size:1,124 acres affected, making it among the 10 largest fires in New York State since 1975. The largest was the 1995 Sunrise Fire, which burned more than 6,000 acres near Riverhead.

Cause: Remains under investigation.

Status: County Executive Steve Bellone declared a state of emergency for Suffolk, but said he was "cautiously optimistic" the fire will be brought under control. Three hot spots continue to burn. Airdrops of water by a State Police helicopter led state commissioner of Homeland Security, Jerome Hauer, to say he also was cautiously optimistic about getting the fire under control Tuesday.

Firefighters: About 200 firefighters from about 35 departments continue to battle the fire with 20 brush trucks, 10 tankers, and 10 engines. Nassau County firefighters who assisted on Monday have been sent home.

Structures: Three homes and one commercial building were destroyed; 41 homes are still without power.

Information: Officials ask that people seeking information about the fire not call 911 but check the county website, suffolkcountyny.gov.

Train service: Long Island Rail Road trains continue to be replaced by buses between Ronkonkoma and Greenport. In some areas, the fires were fairly close to the tracks, although there has been no report of track damage, and smoke created visibility issues, railroad officials said.

Roads: These roads in the Ridge-Manorville area were closed Monday night: Connecticut Avenue from River Road to Mill Road; Mill Road from Connecticut Avenue to Wading River Manor Road; Wading River Manor Road from North Street to River Road; Halsey Manor Road; Mill Road.

Forecast: The National Weather Service has forecast a slight chance of showers after 10 a.m. Wednesday. Skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 56 degrees and a north wind between 8 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Costs: Bellone spokeswoman Vanessa Baird-Streeter said the county's costs associated with the fire are almost exclusively related to personnel and overtime. No estimate of those costs was available.

Bans: New York's Department of Environmental Conservation last month instituted a ban on residential brush burning and it remains in effect through May 14.