A plume of smoke rises from the site of a large brush fire in the Pine Barrens in Manorville Sunday afternoon, as seen from the eastbound Long Island Expressway. Photo: Peter Blasl

Riverhead Fire Department and volunteers from three other area departments are battling a large brush fire in the L.I. State Pine Barrens Preserve in the northeastern section of the Manorville Fire District, near Calverton.

Several brush trucks are in the woodlands working to put out the fire, according to radio reports, is burning about 10 acres of land south of Route 24 and east of the Long Island Expressway.

Riverhead firefighters responded at about 5 p.m. to a report of a brush fire in the vicinity of the Calverton shooting range and the Calverton Hills community of Route 24 near exit 71 of the Long Island Expressway.

Manorville Fire Department responded at around the same time to a call of a brush fire in the vicinity of Halsey Manor Road/Connecticut Avenue.

A Suffolk County Police helicopter responded to assist firefighters locate the brush fire Sunday afternoon. Here, the plume of smoke is seen from Middle Country Road in Calverton. Photo: Peter Blasl

A Suffolk County Police helicopter responded to assist firefighters on the ground locate the fire.

Wading River Fire Department and Flanders Fire Department were called for mutual aid and sent brush trucks to the scene.

The smell of smoke and even a light haze overspread portions of central Riverhead Town, prompting other calls to the fire department of smoke in the area this afternoon.

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Denise is a veteran local reporter, editor and attorney. Her work has been recognized with numerous journalism awards, including investigative reporting and writer of the year awards from the N.Y. Press Association. She was also honored in 2020 with a NY State Senate Woman of Distinction Award for her trailblazing work in local online news. She is a founder, owner and co-publisher of this website. Email Denise.