bayidge closing, The Leader, Locust Valley, Bayville, Glen cove, centre island, brooay

Brush'd Off the L.I.R.R.

A small brush fire at the end of Meadow Lane in Mill Neck on Thursday, June 12 briefly disrupted Long Island Rail Road service in and out of Oyster Bay. The fire was reported at approximately 7:30 P.M. and as a result, two trains between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley were cancelled.
The first Locust Valley Fire Department Assistant Chief on scene was Jeffrey Baker. Chief Baker found a smoky condition and upon further investigation found several small fires along the track area. Locust Valley heavy rescue truck #542 and crew arrived on scene and along with Chief Baker, began a search of the area. Assistant Chief Brian Nolan then arrived on scene and assisted, as the firemen battled the fire which was far from the reach of the rescue truck. Because of the brush fire conditions, assistance was provided by Glenwood and Oyster Bay Fire Departments, who sent tankers. Additional units and Assistant Chief Dominick Scaperotta from Locust Valley Fire Department also responded to the scene.
After the grouping of small fires was extinguished, the firemen wetted down the area because of the extreme dryness in the area. As a result of the brush fires, disruption of rail road service occurred. The 8:06 P.M. train east bound from Jamaica to Oyster Bay was halted at the Locust Valley train station so that the thirty or so passengers could be transported via bus to their final destination in Oyster Bay. The 8:21 PM train from Oyster Bay bound for Jamaica was canceled, however the train which had dropped off its passengers in Locust Valley was sent westbound. The westbound train, despite the cancellation and reconfiguration was only nineteen minutes late into its final destination. According to Long Island Rail Road spokesperson, Sam Zambuto, "only two trains were affected" and "no damage was incurred to the railroad or equipment."
According to Locust Valley Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Nolan, "it was an extremely busy night," the brush fire being just one six calls for assistance in the community which required the local fire department and its volunteers. The limited disruption in service did not affect the latter trains scheduled to and from Oyster Bay and other points west.

• Adam Grohman