Dix Hills FD Battles Brush Fire at Edgewood Preserve

Volunteers from the Dix Hills Fire Department responded to a large brush fire in the Edgewood Preserve property adjacent to Commack Road on Saturday afternoon, April 25. Firefighters were alerted to the fire at about 1:30 p.m., which spread south from Dix Hills into Deer Park, fueled by low humidity and high winds. Mutual aid was requested from two dozen departments for heavy-duty “Stump Jumper” trucks from as far as Holtsville and Bethpage, to gain access into the thickly wooded preserve.

Over 250 firefighters responded and battled the multiple blazes which were brought under control by about 5:15 p.m. Due to the magnitude of the fire and that it involved two fire districts areas, command was a joint effort headed by Dix Hills Fire Chief Robert Fling and Deer Park Fire Chief Larry Bradbury.

The staging area for emergency vehicles, EMS Rehab, and the Command Post were established at the Deer Park Fire Department training facility, just south of the preserve property. Suffolk County Fire-Rescue Coordinators were also on the scene to assist with mutual aid, truck staging, and crew assignments. The Suffolk County Police Department was requested for a helicopter, which relayed information on the fire conditions to the Chiefs. There were no injuries reported and no structures were damaged in the blaze.

Story by Steve Silverman, Public Information Officer, Dix Hills Fire Department
Photos by Steve Silverman and Dix Hills Fire Dept.