SMITHTOWN, NY — A brush fire behind Morewood Park spread rapidly on Sunday afternoon, drawing a large emergency response with crews battling challenging conditions before bringing the blaze under control, according to the Smithtown Fire Department.
The department was activated by Smithtown Fire Rescue Communications around 1:56 p.m. for a smoke investigation at Morewood Park, which quickly became a fast-moving brush fire in the area.
Firefighters said approximately a 200-foot by 150-foot section of brush was burning deep in the woods behind the park.
Dry, windy conditions combined with hilly terrain made for a difficult operation, officials said.
Additional support was provided by Commack Fire Department and Kings Park Fire Department, while St. James Volunteer Fire Department covered standby operations at Smithtown Fire Headquarters.
The fire was brought under control in just over 75 minutes, followed by extensive overhaul operations.
One firefighter was evaluated and treated by EMS at the scene. No further injuries were reported.
All operations were conducted under the command of Chief of Department Dan Dongvort.
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