Lakeview FD finds Hempstead State Lake Park pier in flames

The pier at Hempstead State Lake Park was found in flames on Friday, July 12. The Lakeview Fire Department responded to the scene and found the pier, which was a recent addition to the park, completely enveloped in flames.

“It was fully engulfed,” LVFD Chief Frederick Senti said. “The entire deck was consumed by fire. All of the wood that was used to build the brand new deck — it was brand new — was up in flames.”

The department put out the fire at around 11:30 p.m.. The cause of the fire is unconfirmed, and whether it was the result of an accident or arson remains unknown.

“Given the nature of the remote location, and being that it was the middle of the night, and usually wood doesn’t spontaneously combust,” Senti said about the possibility of arson.

“It very well could have been an accident," he added. "Like, per se, if somebody flicked a cigarette. But it’s such a strange situation in a remote location to have that event take place.”

The Lakeview Fire Department has been working with the Nassau County Arson/Bomb Squad and the Nassau County Fire Marshall’s office. But it gets a bit tricky — the fire technically took place on state land, and is therefore under state jurisdiction, so state troopers and the state park police are also investigating the fire.

The pier was all but entirely destroyed by the fire. Only a charred, skeletal structure remains. Whether the pier will be rebuilt — and if so, when — has yet to be confirmed.