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July 7, 2010 - At approximately 1255 hrs on Wednesday July 7th a signal 12 was transmitted at the former Town of Huntington Landfill located adjacent to the Covanta Energy Plant on Townline Road.
Upon arrival we were met with a large area of brush involved in fire and spreading rapidly.
Mutual aid requests were initiated immediately and continued when Town Of Huntington Fire Coordinator Peter Gunther arrived on-scene.
Three challenges faced during operations were exposures to private dwellings on McFadden Drive, Thrush Court, Arleigh Drive and the 5th Avenue extension; Methane gas from the landfill fueling the fire; and 100 degree temperatures with high levels of humidity during operations.
Several calls were received from residents at surrounding properties indicating that the fire was approaching their property. Many self-evacuated out of concern for their own personal safety.
In all approximately 20 acres of brush were affected by the fire including areas of the LILCO right-of-way and the Iroquois Pipeline right-of-way. However, no damage was reported to any civilian properties.
East Northport Fire Department responded with all Chiefs; three Engines; one Brush Truck; three Ambulances; one Responder Vehicle; one Fire Police Squad vehicle; and three support vehicles.
In addition fifteen agencies were requested for assistance:
1. Commack FD: responded with two engines, one brush truck and one rehab vehicle;
2. Kings Park FD: responded with two engines and one stump jumper;
3. Northport FD: responded with one engine and one brush truck;
4. Greenlawn FD: responded with one engine and one brush truck;
5. Deer Park FD: responded with one stump jumper;
6. North Babylon FD: responded with one stump jumper and one brush truck;
7. Nissequogue FD: responded with a 3000 gallon tanker;
8. Hauppauge FD: responded with one engine for relief;
9. Smithtown FD: responded with one engine for relief;
10. Brentwood FD: responded with one engine for relief;
11. Eaton's Neck FD: Headquarters standby engine;
12. Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corp: Headquarters standby ambulance;
13. Suffolk County PD: sector cars, two sergeants, one inspector and two helicopters;
14. Town of Huntington;
15. Covanta Energy : responded with representatives and a pay loader;
In total - eighty (80) firefighters battled this blaze for three hours before bringing it under control; and for another hour until total extinguishment.
Suffolk Aviation provided command with an aerial perspective of the fireground and enabled us to determine where the potential for spread was the greatest.
During the course of operations one firefighter from North Babylon was injured and based upon the mechanism of injury he was airlifted to University Hospital of Stony Brook. Fortunately his injuries were superficial and he was subsequently released following observation.
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