Wantagh F.D. joins volunteers from across South Shore to battle Jones Beach blaze

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Smoke covered the amphitheater at Jones Beach State Park on Saturday morning, filling the air with the pungent odor of burning shrubbery and scrub pine, as fire departments from Nassau and Suffolk counties responded to a major brush fire in the park.

Command units gathered in  the VIP lot at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater to direct the efforts of the Wantagh and Seaford fire departments. They were joined by units from Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick and North Merrick, as well as at least one brush truck from Babylon. 

A helicopter from the Nassau County Police Department flew overhead surveying the blaze, which apparently started on an access road in the area on the north side of Ocean Parkway, across from Field 5. Brush trucks from throughout the area were called to the scene, and an aerial pumper could be seen from a distance pouring down water on the fire.

By 12:30, the fire appeared to be contained. The origin of the fire was unknown.

Emergency medical techicians from the surrounding communities gathered, including from the Bellmore-Merrick EMS, and electricity to the area was cut as a precaurionary measure.

It was not known  whether the fire resulted in any injuries.

This is a developing story.