By Ex-Chief Nicholas Luparella/Denise Civiletti Riverhead Local/photos Pete Blasl
March 3, 2017
Riverhead firefighters doused a brush fire in the woods south of a Route 58 office complex and Toys R Us shortly after 1 this afternoon. The woods adjoin the Riverhead High School campus. Someone at the school spotted the smoke and called 911, according to Riverhead Police. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Fire Marshal Craig Zitek said. About 40 firefighters responded with one brush truck, one tanker and one engine, Riverhead Fire Chief Kevin Brooks said. Firefighters were on scene for about an hour. “It was taking off pretty good” when firefighters arrived, Brooks said. “It was in the reeds — there’s a little swamp area back there but the tops of the reeds were pretty dry and brittle. It was tough to get to. We had to go in behind Toys R Us and go over a wall with the hose.” Strong winds fanned the flames, but Brooks noted it would have been much more challenging if the fire sparked in a wide open area. “It’s pretty protected back there,” the chief said.
