A Forest Built to Burn—But Not Like This
In March 2025, brush fires once again raged through the Pine Barrens, burning hundreds of acres and prompting evacuations and road closures. But this wasn’t the first time the Pine Barrens had gone up in flames.
Long Island’s Central Pine Barrens is 100,000 acres of fire-dependent wilderness—a rugged, pine-covered expanse sitting atop Long Island’s only drinking water source. Certain trees, like the pitch pine, need fire to reproduce. Without flames, their pinecones remain sealed, unable to release seeds.
But in August 1995, fire didn’t just help the forest—it became a firestorm so powerful that it leapt over highways, threatened entire communities, and forced New York City to send FDNY units to Long Island for the first time ever. The Sunrise Fire would become one of the largest mutual aid firefighting events in New York history, changing how wildfires are fought on Long Island forever.
The 1995 Fire That Jumped Sunrise Highway
On August 24, 1995, a small brush fire started near Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead. Fueled by a 21-day drought, gusting winds up to 35 mph, and low humidity, it exploded into an inferno.
Then, it did something that no one thought possible—it jumped across the 400-foot-wide Sunrise Highway.
By the Numbers:
- 5,500 acres burned, making it the largest wildfire in New York in nearly a century
- 2,000+ firefighters from Long Island, FDNY, Connecticut, and beyond
- 49 firefighters hospitalized, but miraculously, no fatalities
- 400 residents evacuated, with flames threatening homes and businesses
- Flames reached 200 feet high, twice the height of the Montauk Lighthouse
At the fire’s peak, Westhampton was completely cut off, with the blaze raging on both sides of Sunrise Highway and shutting down the Long Island Rail Road. The Hamptons were effectively isolated for days.
A Massive Firefighting Effort—And a “CNN Drop”
By August 26, the fire was so out of control that Governor George Pataki requested military assistance.
FDNY sent fire companies to the East End for the first time in history. Over 175 Long Island fire departments responded. Firetrucks and brush trucks (“Stumpjumpers”) lined Sunrise Highway for miles.
But then, politics got involved.
Senator Al D’Amato personally called President Bill Clinton and demanded C-130 military firefighting planes be sent. The firefighting command center had not requested them—but they were sent anyway.
By the time they arrived, the fire was mostly contained. But rather than send them home, a highly publicized water drop was staged—on a tiny patch of already-smoldering grass near the highway. The TV cameras captured the drop, but firefighters on the ground knew it was just for show.
This moment became infamous in firefighting circles as the “CNN Drop”—a water drop done purely for media coverage, not actual firefighting needs.
The Fire Almost Destroyed a Neighborhood
One of the most intense battles took place at Hamptons West Estates, a neighborhood near Gabreski Airport.
- The fire completely surrounded the community.
- Firefighters had no water supply—so they siphoned water from backyard swimming pools to fight back the flames.
- If the wind hadn’t shifted at the last moment, it could have burned straight into Westhampton Beach.
Despite the unbelievable conditions, only one house was lost—a miracle considering the fire’s strength.
Why Wasn’t Long Island Ready for This?
The 1995 fire exposed massive failures in Long Island’s wildfire response:
- Fire departments couldn’t communicate with each other. Each department had its own radio frequencies, making coordination a nightmare.
- Firefighters were trained for house fires—not wildfires. They didn’t know how fast the fire would spread and were caught off guard by wind-driven flames.
- Trucks blocked each other because firefighters didn’t know where to position their equipment.
- There was no official wildfire response plan—every department did its own thing.
The chaos of 1995 forced Long Island to completely rethink how it handles wildfires.
Lessons Learned: How Firefighting Changed After 1995
After the Sunrise Fire, Long Island finally got serious about wildfire prevention:
- Prescribed Burns – Firefighters now intentionally burn sections of the Pine Barrens to remove excess fuel before a wildfire starts.
- New Brush Trucks (“Stumpjumpers”) – Upgraded to hold more water and navigate rough terrain.
- Firewise Program – Homeowners near the Pine Barrens are now taught how to fireproof their properties.
- U-TAC Radio Channels – Fire departments now have shared frequencies, so communication failures don’t happen again.
- Drones & Fire Weather Forecasting – Firefighters now use drones to track wildfires and daily risk assessments to monitor conditions.
A $250K state grant now funds controlled burns each year—helping prevent the next big fire.
Will the Pine Barrens Burn Again?
Yes.
- March 2025: Fires burned hundreds of acres, reminding everyone that the Pine Barrens is still at risk.
- Climate change is making wildfires worse. Hotter summers, longer droughts, and stronger winds increase the danger.
- More development near the Barrens means more homes are at risk.
The next big wildfire isn’t a question of “if” but “when.”
Final Takeaway: A Fire That Changed Long Island
The Sunrise Fire of 1995 was Long Island’s most destructive wildfire in modern history. It jumped highways, forced evacuations, and exposed major firefighting failures—but it also led to major improvements that protect Long Island today.
Still, the Pine Barrens is built to burn, and when the conditions are right, it will burn again. The only question is—will Long Island be ready?
Crazy But True: Wildfire Facts About the Pine Barrens
- The 1995 fire jumped a 400-foot-wide highway—twice.
- Some trees in the Pine Barrens can’t reproduce without fire.
- The “CNN Drop” was ordered just for TV cameras—not for actual firefighting.
- Firefighters used backyard swimming pools as water sources to save homes.
- Before 1995, fire departments couldn’t even talk to each other over the radio.
- FDNY sent fire trucks to the East End for the first time in history.
- Long Island now spends $250K per year on controlled burns to reduce wildfire risk.
Photo: Americasroof, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
