Fire Officials: Be Vigilant in Extreme Dry Heat

Despite the fact that it is still spring, the South Fork is experiencing a dry heatwave and with that comes the increased possibility of wildfires.

Fire officials are asking that everyone be cautious. The Suffolk County Wildfire Task Force issued a rating of "high" to put everyone from firefighters to campers on alert.

"A simple cigarette butt can start a pretty good size fire," said Chief Ray Harden on Thursday.

A couple of years ago, a house in the Northwest Woods of East Hampton was seriously damaged after a driver flicked a cigarette out the window igniting the brush and causing the house to catch fire.

Over the past few days, fire departments across the county have responded to more brush fires. On Wednesday, the responded to a brush fire by the ball fields in . It was quickly brought under control. 

Harden's department responded to one in the woods off of the high tension lines between Sag Harbor and East Hampton on Saturday night. "That might have been some kids messing around, we're not sure," Harden said.

He suggested being careful when emptying charcoal grills. "I've seen that a lot — people empty their charcoal grill at the edge of the woods and that's caused a brush fire."

"You just have to be careful of what your throwing out," Harden said.

Use extreme caution anywhere there are woods and it's dry and hot, particularly county parks, said Chief Rich Thayer. 

He said the light rain on Wednesday night did little to help. Thunder and lighting can even start fires under these conditions.

"No moisture in the ground, high humidity can cause combustion," he said.

Thayer also cautioned workers who might use extension cords outside and have them running through grass.

Dumpster fires can easily occur. "These containers have saw dust and paper – when you get the right dryness, you have internal combustion of materials."

What's already been thrown out can also be a problem, Thayer said. "A glass bottle laying in the woods can deflect onto the ground and cause extra heat in a certain area," starting a fire, he said.