Fire Island History and Information

How it All Began

One of the first questions people ask about Fire Island is, "why do they call it Fire Island?" Fire Island got it's name from pirates who used to light fires on the ocean beaches of the island to lure unsuspecting merchant ships close enough to shore that they would run aground in the shallows or on a sandbar. The pirates would then loot the ships and do whatever pirates do. Of course many of my friends from California are convinced it is because there are gay people running around all over the place. To which I respond that it is a story we have started to keep people from coming to one of the best places I have ever been on this earth.

What is There to Do on Fire Island?

Fire island is made up of nearly 20 unique communities. It amazes me ever year how diverse and different each community is on the island. There are communities for those who just want to be alone with the sand and the sea, for those who want to party until the sun comes up and then back down again. There are communities for everyone in between. But, the tie that binds people that have made the trek to Fire Island for decades upon decades is the love for the sand and salt water. There is nothing like Fire Island from Saltaire to Ocean Beach. You owe it to yourself, your family and your friends to make it out to Fire Island.