Fire Departments Work To Prevent, Reduce Damage From Brush Fires In LI Pine Barrens

RIDGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A brush fire that damaged several houses and jumped a creek in Copiague, Long Island had officials concerned about the dry, windy conditions Wednesday.

As CBS2's Elise Finch reported, such conditions could turn a few flames into a raging inferno. But new equipment could save lives and property.

Some fire crews are now using fire trucks with military shell frames. They roll easily through the tangles of forest that ring the town of Ridge, Long Island.

Local firefighters are now confident that it will help them take on flames deep in the woods, while giving them a way out should flames block the road.

"Those are ex-military five-tons that we had fabricated to take down trees," said Ridge volunteer firefighter Stephen Gray.

Gray knows the danger. He was in command when a brush fire broke out in the area four years ago under dry conditions similar to those seen on Wednesday.

That fire burned several homes, damaged fire equipment, and briefly trapped several volunteers.

"It's nothing I've ever seen before," Gray said. "I've been in the department for almost 20 years now, and that's biggest fire that I've ever seen."

Since then, more new homes have been built directly in the woods.

Gissellie Rivera's family moved into a wooded area of Ridge just two months ago. She was alarmed to learn of recent red flag warnings about fire dangers for her new neighborhood.

"It just didn't cross my mind about the brush fires, and that it would actually be this close to us," Rivera said.

In the thick brush, it was clear why the red flag alert was in place. The leaves were so dry, they crumbled at the touch.

The New York State Forestry Department plans to set more fires intentionally. Controlled burns cut down on the amount of combustible brush that spreads brush fires quickly.

"The Pine Barrens have been burning for thousands of years, and our firefighters have learned that it's better to fight small fires rather than big fires," said Richard Amper of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society.

And even as volunteers train constantly to protect their community, Rivera said she and her family have already planned an escape route.

"I'm definitely going to have to talk to the kids again about fire safety," she said.

Meanwhile, unless there are high winds, the state is planning a controlled burn in the Long Island Pine Barrens on Thursday.