Westhampton brush fire contained, Suffolk spokesman says

The Westhampton fire is now contained, Suffolk County spokesman Mike Martino said outside a mobile command unit set up at Gabreski Airport.

Brush trucks from more than a half-dozen area fire departments remain in the woods along Old Riverhead Road looking for hot spots as they aim to keep the fire under control, Martino said. Two brush trucks from the Eastport Fire Department could also be seen addressing hot spots in Quogue, where a smaller fire was reported Saturday.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), who arrived at the staging area Sunday morning, praised the efforts of the approximately 90 agencies that responded to extinguish the fires.

LaLota said he’ll work to secure federal funding if the fire qualifies as a FEMA disaster. In order to do so, there would need to be $37 million in uninsured damages, the congressman said.

“Thankfully, we’re not at the monetary point where it does qualify,” LaLota estimated of the damages. “If we do, Washington ought to be there to help my neighbors.”

County officials are next expected to hold a news briefing at 11:30 a.m., Martino said. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine will provide updates along with LaLota, officials from Suffolk Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services and the New York State DEC.