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A few passing clouds. Low 57F. Winds light and variable..
A few passing clouds. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Contributed photo Nearly 300 acres of forest has burned in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve since a lightning strike in August.
A State Police helcopter prepares to drop water on a large forest fire in the the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Contributed photo
Contributed photo Helicopters were pressed into service to assist in fighting a large forest fire in Ulstar County.
Contributed photo Crews prepare to fight the forest fire in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County.
Contributed photo Hundreds of firefighters are assisting in fighting the large forest fire in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County.
Nearly 300 acres of forest has burned in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve since a lightning strike in August. Contributed photo
Contributed photo Smoke could be seen for miles as 270 acres of forest burn in the the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County.
Contributed photo Nearly 300 acres of forest has burned in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve since a lightning strike in August.
A State Police helcopter prepares to drop water on a large forest fire in the the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Contributed photo
Contributed photo Helicopters were pressed into service to assist in fighting a large forest fire in Ulstar County.
Contributed photo Crews prepare to fight the forest fire in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County.
Contributed photo Hundreds of firefighters are assisting in fighting the large forest fire in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County.
Nearly 300 acres of forest has burned in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve since a lightning strike in August. Contributed photo
Contributed photo Smoke could be seen for miles as 270 acres of forest burn in the the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County.
ELLENVILLE — Fourteen firefighters from Greene County are assisting with the battle against a massive forest fire in Ulster County.
The firefighters are members of the Kiskatom, New Baltimore, Earlton and Athens fire companies.
The fires, in the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, have consumed more than 270 acres. The fires are believed to have been started by a lightning strike Aug. 27, according to Ulster County officials.
More than 200 firefighters, forest rangers, New York State National Guard, state police and other volunteers have been fighting three separate fires — the Napanoch Point Fire, Stony Kill Fire and the Wurtsboro Fire in Sullivan County.
“We’re glad that we were able to send a crew and equipment to our neighboring community to assist them in their time of need, “ Kiskatom Fire Chief Pete Kusminsky said.
Kiskatom donated four firefighters, a brush truck and a utility terrain vehicle.
Five firefighters, a brush truck and a UTV were also headed to Ulster County from the Earlton Fire Department, Earlton Fire Chief Pat Donovan said.
New Baltimore sent three firefighters and a UTV and Athens supplied two firefighters and a brush truck.
As of Thursday afternoon, there have been no requests for the services of firefighters from Columbia County, Columbia County Fire Coordinator George Keeler said.
National Guard and state police helicopters are being used to fight the massive blaze.
Two Blackhawk helicopters conducted 82 bucket drops and two state police helicopters conducted 87 bucket drops Wednesday.
Twenty Canadian firefighters from Quebec enlisted through the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact arrived Thursday, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. The Compact, established in the 1940s, provides the means for its member states and provinces to cope with fires that might be beyond the capabilities of a single member through information, technology and resource-sharing.
A thunderstorm Tuesday night did not extinguish the fires, but it slowed the fire’s spread and bought firefighters more time to put in containment lines, officials said.
The area where the fire is burning is part of a much larger area of New York that contains Greene and Columbia counties. The area extends from New York City to Albany and is listed as a high risk for fire due to the extremely dry conditions the area has experienced this summer.
A coordinated effort of state and local resources has been on the ground attempting to suppress the fires. Firefighters are working in a joint unified command led by state Forest Rangers. The forest rangers have significant experience in incident command and fire prevention strategies because of their extensive training and cooperative wildland firefighting missions to other states, Hochul said.
“Until we get significant rainfall, these fires are going to keep burning. We need everyone to do their part and be careful with fire. While this fire started with a lightning strike, most of the fires we’ve seen this summer started with an unattended campfire. If you don’t need to build a fire, don’t. The extremely dry vegetation can ignite almost immediately,” Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said.
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is closed at least through Labor Day, officials said.
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