13 Facts About Fire Island

Fire Island is the large center island of the outer barrier islands parallel to the South Shore of Long Island, in the U S state of New York.

All parts of the island not within village limits are part of the Fire Island census-designated place, which had a permanent population of 292 at the 2010 census, though that expands to thousands of residents and tourists during the summer months.

Fire Island has "an iconic gay scene" and the Grove Hotel is the only hotel in New York State that prohibits those under 21 on the premises; this is legal because the hotel's entrance is through a bar.

Fire Island was heavily damaged in the high tides associated with Hurricane Sandy in 2012, including three breaches around Smith Point County Park on the sparsely populated eastern end of the island.

Fire Island is accessible by automobile near each end: via Robert Moses Causeway on its western end, and by William Floyd Parkway near its eastern end.

Related searches

Around 1683, Fire Island Inlet broke through, separating it from Jones Beach Island.

The Fire Island Lighthouse was built in 1858, right on the inlet, but Fire Island's western terminus at Democrat Point has steadily moved west so that the lighthouse today is 6 miles from the inlet.

Fire Island separated from Southampton in a 1931 Nor'easter when Moriches Inlet broke through.

Moriches Inlet and efforts by local communities east of Fire Island to protect their beach front with jetties have led to an interruption in the longshore drift of sand going from east to west and are blamed for erosion of the Fire Island beachfront.

Quiet villages on Fire Island provide solitude, while the larger towns like Ocean Beach and Cherry Grove provide a more social atmosphere with clubs, bars and open air dining.

Until 1986, there was no ambulance service on Fire Island, prompting the village of Saltaire to form its rescue company, later followed by Ocean Beach, and then in the 2000s with Fair Harbor.

Some coastal fire departments on Long Island have fully equipped marine rescue and fire boat units which can cross the Great South Bay to provide necessary assistance.

Specially equipped boats provided by the Suffolk County Police Department Marine Bureau docked at the various communities on Fire Island provide emergency transportation to individuals in need of dire medical care.