Firefighters Battle Brush Fire Behind Jones Beach Theater

WANTAGH, NY — Dozens of fire departments responded to a brush fire that broke out near the Jones Beach theater in Wantagh Saturday morning. The Wantagh Fire Department first responded to the scene at about 11 a.m. Due to the dry underbrush, wind and fast-moving flames, Chief Ken Kelly requested assistance from 14 different departments across Nassau County and western Suffolk County in order to bring the blaze under control.

A helicopter from the Nassau County Police Department responded to give aerial reports. After about an hour the fire was declared 90 to 95 percent contained and firefighters were still hitting hot spots. The fire was fully put out by 3:20 p.m. In all, between 10 and 13 acres burned

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. No injuries have been reported.

While units were operating at the scene, the EMS Duty Crew from Wantagh handled two additional medical emergencies while the Seaford Fire Department handled a third. As units were finishing work at the beach there was an accident involving a bicyclist at Merrick Road and Wantagh Parkway which was handled by Rescue 3.