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Wind-Driven Blaze Draws 7 Area Fire Departments To Brookhaven: Chief

BROOKHAVEN, NY — A wind-driven blaze broke out at Pallets-R-Us in Brookhaven, drawing about 60 firefighters from seven area fire departments Monday night, First Assistant Chief Guiseppe Loiacono said.

The Brookhaven Fire Department was first activated just before 4 p.m. for smoke in the area near Wisteria Circle, and when firefighters responded, they determined the flames broke out behind Pallets-R-Us, fire department officials said.

Crews discovered a large pile of mulch with wood chips, about 100 feet long by 100 feet wide, and about 50 feet tall, that had caught fire, Loiacnono said, adding that it spread to multiple trailers on an adjacent property operated by Cassone Trailers.

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“Upon arrival, it was just one big fireball; there’s no other way of putting it,” he said.

Department personnel had to deploy a tower ladder, as well as multiple tankers, and mutual aid from the Bellport, Hagerman, Yaphank, North Patchogue, Ridge, Mastic, and Mastic Beach fire departments.

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The department’s drone was also used in the firefight because once the fire had spread, firefighters had a “hard time assessing it,” without the overhead view, Loiacono said.

“We could only see so much,” he said.

What made the fight even more difficult was that it was driven by the wind, according to Loiacono.

Altogether, it took about two hours to knock down and another two-and-a-half hours to clean up, he said.

The Shirley and South Country ambulance companies were also called in for firefighter rehab.

No injuries were reported.

Patch has reached out to Pallets-R-Us for comment.

This story will be updated. Check back later.


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