Several wildfires are ravaging Long Island’s east end, forcing residents to flee and closing major highways.
In a dramatic Saturday evening update, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and predicted the inferno would last several days.
“This could be a multi-day event,” Hochul said expressing concerns for area residents.
“I’m also concerned about the air quality…This can shift at any moment, but the air quality is definitely compromised.”
The governor said 100,000 N-95 masks would be sent to locals to protect them from smoke and toxic air.
Firefighters extinguished three smaller fires and 80 percent of the largest of the four that erupted in Center Moriches, East Moriches, Eastport and Westhampton as of Saturday night.
