Fire Consumes Home on the Eastern End of Fire Island Pines

Local firefighters were called to duty on Sunday evening to combat a blaze that appears to have engulfed two homes in the upscale community of Fire Island Pines. According to accounts on Facebook, as many as four homes may have been affected by the fire.

As reported in Newsday's online edition, 50 firefighters were battling a blaze at 465 Fisherman's Path at the far eastern end of Fire Island Pines. As of this writing, sources on the ground in Fire Island Pines report that the fire appears to be under control.

The current inferno isn't the first time the volunteer fire department has been called to action in recent years. In 2011, a major fire consumed a large portion of the beachside community's commercial district including the famed Pavilion nightclub. In 2010, a fire consumed two homes on Bay walk.

According to the Fire Island Pines Fire Department website, there are approximately 750 residential homes within the boundaries of the Pines made up of 650 individual single-family houses and 100 co-operative apartments. There are no paved roads. There is one dirt road running east to west through the center of the community. Six-foot wide public boardwalks provide access to all the homes in the Pines. The community is approximately 1.5 miles long and .25 mile wide, and is located on the eastern portion of Fire Island. Currently, the population fluctuates from as little as 100 during the winter months to as many as 4,000 during the peak summer months. Water in the community is supplied by Suffolk County Water Authority. For fire protection purposes, a hydrant system with Class A Hydrants is installed along the dirt roadway with Class B Hydrants along the interior boardwalks.