Fire Threatens Resort Homes on Long Island
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NEW YORK — A brush fire raged Thursday in the Hamptons resort area of Long Island, forcing families from their homes while closing a major highway, an airport and a commuter railroad.
Officials said the fire, which had grown to about three miles long and 1 1/2 miles wide by Thursday evening, was threatening houses in the area around Eastport and Westhampton.
Smoke billowed for 20 miles as the blaze forced officials to close the Sunrise Highway, the Suffolk County airport and the base for the Northeast’s space shuttle rescue units. Long Island Rail Road service in the area was also suspended.
A Fire Department spokesman said: “We believe we have approximately 110 departments responding, covering all of Suffolk County and most of Nassau County.”
Nassau and Suffolk counties comprise Long Island, which is home to many commuters who work in New York City.
Brush fires Tuesday had forced hundreds to flee and charred 2,500 acres of the Long Island Pine Barrens nature preserve.
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