Brush fires on New York's Long Island fanned by high winds have picked up quickly. The fires were spewing thick gray smoke into the sky and closed a major highway on Saturday.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Saturday after several wind-driven brush fires broke out in New York’s Long Island, sending large smoke plumes into the air and shutting down a highway.

The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services warned that wind gusts up to 40 mph were likely, complicating efforts to douse flames.