Residents north of Sunrise Highway in Center Moriches tried to start a fire in their backyard around 9 a.m. Saturday to cook up the treat despite heavy winds, officials told the media.
After the devastation we witnessed in Southern California in January, and in the Carolinas earlier this month, one would think common sense would prevail. The Carolina fires are still burning.
Growing up on Long Island in the 50s and 60s, we learned early on that our weather conditions in March are extremely windy. In fact, we were taught that “March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb.”
It is a perfect way to remember that March has violent weather streaks.
And after the Sunrise 1995 fires, where miles of the Pine Barrens were destroyed, one would be extremely cautious. But instead, rather than using kindling in a self-contained piece of equipment, cardboard was used in its place.
While the wind grabbed the cardboard and ultimately, was caught and extinguished, the embers were blown wildly across a two-mile-long and two-mile-plus-wide swath of land falling into dried brush and easily igniting.
Ninety volunteer fire companies and EMS crews were called out from across Nassau and Suffolk Counties to try to put the fire down over the next two days.
Meanwhile, windy conditions spread flames quickly and eventually destroyed at least one commercial building and damaging another.
In addition, Grabeski Airport and the home base of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton were shut down. And miles of the Pine Barrens were burned again.
Finally, fortunately, only two fire personnel were injured battling the blazes, but released from area hospitals, officials said.
All so some idiots could make chocolate, marshmallows and Graham crackers for breakfast.
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