Crime & Safety
DEC Says Brush Fire Caused by Arson
'Newsday' article says DEC report indicates arson; county officials say cause still remains under investigation.
According to a report on Newsday, both county and state officials seem to agree that the cause of last month's 1,100-acre brush fire started as a result of some unnatural cause.
However as the county continues to investigate, a Department of Environmental Conservation document reportedly concluded arson is to blame.
The report quotes State Forest Ranger Col. Andrew Jacob as saying: "Someone willfully set the forest on fire in some kind of action."
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While the Newsday report states the DEC gave the cause of the fire an "incendiary classification," Suffolk County Police did not say on Wednesday night that arson was the cause. Though an unnatural spark seems to be evident.
"The fire is still under investigation," said a Suffolk County Police spokeswoman. "But it does not appear to be started by nature, such as lightning."
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