A New Threat Smolders Amid The Devastation From Pine Beetles In East Hampton Woods

A small wildfire broke out last spring on town land near the East Hampton Airport. The underbrush in the area was sparse and while the fire was fast-moving and pushed in different directions by the wind, local firefighters were able to contain it and extinguish it. But in areas of the town where tens of thousands of trees have been cut down or died because of southern pine beetle infestations, a wildfire could get out of control, some fear.

A wildfire broke out in the woods near East Hampton Airport last spring. Blown by shifting winds it proved a challenge to get under control but firemen said the relatively sparse underbrush in the area prevented it from getting out of hand. But in areas of town where tens of thousands of trees have been cut down or died because of southern pine beetle infestations, some fear an eventual wildfire could spell disaster.

A wildfire broke out in the woods near East Hampton Airport last spring. Blown by shifting winds it proved a challenge to get under control but firemen said the relatively sparse underbrush in the area prevented it from getting out of hand. But in areas of town where tens of thousands of trees have been cut down or died because of southern pine beetle infestations, some fear an eventual wildfire could spell disaster.

A wildfire broke out in the woods near East Hampton Airport last spring. Blown by shifting winds it proved a challenge to get under control but firemen said the relatively sparse underbrush in the area prevented it from getting out of hand. But in areas of town where tens of thousands of trees have been cut down or died because of southern pine beetle infestations, some fear an eventual wildfire could spell disaster.

A wildfire broke out in the woods near East Hampton Airport last spring. Blown by shifting winds it proved a challenge to get under control but firemen said the relatively sparse underbrush in the area prevented it from getting out of hand. But in areas of town where tens of thousands of trees have been cut down or died because of southern pine beetle infestations, some fear an eventual wildfire could spell disaster.

A wildfire broke out in the woods near East Hampton Airport last spring. Blown by shifting winds it proved a challenge to get under control but firemen said the relatively sparse underbrush in the area prevented it from getting out of hand. But in areas of town where tens of thousands of trees have been cut down or died because of southern pine beetle infestations, some fear an eventual wildfire could spell disaster.