Southampton officials target high-risk zones in new wildfire defense plan

The Southampton Central Pine Barrens Community is drafting a new wildfire protection plan to address the vulnerabilities exposed by the East End fire in March 2025. Local officials held a public meeting on Thursday to review draft strategies and collect resident feedback before the final document is completed.

The plan aims to map specific high-risk locations, particularly where residential neighborhoods directly border wooded areas. Edward Schneyer of the Office of Emergency Management noted that these interface zones present some of the greatest hazards during a fire event. The strategy also includes educational components designed to teach homeowners how to prepare their properties for dry conditions.

Residents attending the meeting cited recent and historical events as reasons for their urgency. Linda Penfield of Remsenburg recalled the massive Sunrise Highway fire of 1995, which burned for several days. She noted that many homes were evacuated during that event and that fire trucks were overwhelmed. Penfield said the community is very interested in the new program because of these past experiences.

Jason Smith, the science and stewardship manager for Central Pine Barrens, emphasized that the planning process is based on recent events rather than theory. Smith stated that the group is not talking about hypotheticals. He described the meeting as an opportunity for the public to articulate their specific fears regarding future fire risks.

Experts from the project team offered practical advice during the session. Ari Porter, lead project manager at SWCA, listed several actions residents can take immediately. These include cleaning roofs and gutters, clearing vegetation near structures, packing emergency go bags, and creating personal evacuation plans. Porter emphasized that everyone has a role to play in reducing the impact of wildfires.

Technical advisors explained that the Pine Barrens is a fire-dependent habitat. They said periodic fires are necessary for the ecosystem to remain healthy. The goal of the new plan is to balance these environmental needs with the safety of the communities living within and around the forest. The plan will continue to take shape as officials review the comments gathered during the Thursday session.