Weekend Long Island wildfires sparked by s’mores fire gone wrong, Suffolk police say

The brush fires that tore through parts of Suffolk County over the weekend were accidentally sparked by a fire used to make s’mores, police said.

Suffolk County detectives said Monday that embers from a fire at a home in Manorville spread due to strong winds, igniting the dry landscape and fueling multiple brush fires across the pine barrens. The blazes scorched acres of land, forced evacuations and temporarily shut down major roads, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to expand a burn ban to Long Island, New York City and parts of the Hudson Valley.

While the fires have been mostly contained, police said the investigation remains open as they continue speaking with witnesses and reviewing tips.

Hochul’s burn ban, which prohibits open brush burning and uncontained outdoor fires, remained in effect. The ban will remain in effect until March 16, when the state's annual outdoor fire prohibition begins, according to the governor's office.

Officials have warned that the combination of dry conditions, gusty winds and rising temperatures has increased the risk of wildfires in the region, urging residents to take extra precautions.