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

Quick-moving brush fires burned through a large swath of land on New York’s Long Island on Saturday, fanned by high winds that spewed thick grey smoke into the sky and prompted the evacuation of a military base and the closure of a major highway.

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.

“This is still out of control at this moment,” Hochul told local TV station News 12. “We’re seeing people having to be evacuated from the Westhampton area,” she said, adding that more evacuations may be needed.

Hochul said homes, a chemical factory and an Amazon warehouse were at risk.

Videos posted to social media showed flames shooting into the air and columns of black smoke rising above roads.

The town of Southampton issued a warning in the afternoon against starting recreational fires due to the wildfire risk. That came around the time the videos began appearing.

In a statement, Hochul said the national guard had been providing support by helicopter and working with local law enforcement.

“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 Nasa’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 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 Cambell said in a statement.