Helicopter helps guide firefighters toward small brush fire

A small brush fire spotted by a hiker off County Road 51 in Northampton sent firefighters searching through the woods Wednesday afternoon to contain it, officials at the scene said.

A Suffolk County Police helicopter helped assist the firefighters from the air to direct them toward the fire.

Riverhead Fire Department chief Kevin Brooks said the fire was small enough that it wasn’t easy to locate. The helicopter helped guide the firefighters in the right direction, he said.

At least three fire departments responded, including Flanders, Riverhead and Eastport, after the call came in around 2:30 p.m.

Photo Caption: A brush truck from the Eastport Fire Department leaves the scene on County Road 51 Wednesday. (Credit: Nicole Smith)