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More Brush Fires

Report or discuss current events in the Catskill Mountains.
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dave
Posts: 712
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:14 pm
Location: Acra New York

More Brush Fires

Unread post by dave »

Over the past two weeks, there has been a steady increase in brush fires. About a week ago a brush fire in Jewett spread to a structure and burned it to the ground.

This past weekend, a large forest fire erupted Sam's Point in the Gunks. As of Sunday over 300 acres had burned. Gov Cuomo has now sent over 100 people to help fight the fire. It still continues to rage out of control. Hopefully on Tuesday the rain may help bring it to an end. It was reported that it was started by an individual with an illegal fire, and it got out of control.

Remember: There is a mandatory fire ban between March 15 and May 15.
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mike
Posts: 1442
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:20 pm
Location: Ravena, NY

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by mike »

The Sam's Point fire has now burned 700 acres with no containment in sight. Here are a few pics:

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bikenhike
Posts: 134
Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2010 5:53 pm

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by bikenhike »

Hey guys, I just read that there was a fire yesterday in the town of Shandaken. I guess this guy had a fire that got out of control and burned five acres. They had 20 fire companies there to put it out. I bet he got one of those $500 tickets. It's raining real good out there. Hopefully it would put out the sams point fire. It is really dry out there.
mtnclimber
Posts: 496
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:46 pm

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by mtnclimber »

As of tonight, 3,000 acres have burned. Rain today helped slow it down, but it is not out.

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mtnclimber
Posts: 496
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:46 pm

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by mtnclimber »

CRAGSMOOR—The wildfire at Sam’s Point Preserve on the Shawangunk Ridge is now 60 percent contained, according to officials, who remain vigilant as the temperatures rise and the humidity levels fall. Jim Hay, a public information officer at the New York State Incident Management Team said Tuesday’s moisture gave firefighters the break they needed in fighting the blaze that has been burning since Saturday afternoon. “Basically, we’re continuing the defensive operations that were started yesterday,” Hay said. “We ran some bulldozer lines. We increased some of the defensive lines by hand and with bulldozers and we ran some hose lines up to areas where we thought we’d have a problem once the weather breaks, so we’re facilitating getting water on the fire quickly.” Hay said Tuesday’s estimate of acreage consumed by the wildfire—a figure given by state officials—was slightly off. The actual acreage buned is 1,897, he said. Meanwhile, two helicopters still are being used in water-drop operations, and another is reserved as a Medivac, if needed, Hay said. A total of 300 personnel from 53 agencies remain onsite and are closely monitoring the drying spell. Three minor injuries have been reported, including a firefighter who is being evaluated for dehydration, according to the state Incident Management Team. “Today, we’re waiting to see how the weather change affects the fire activity and if the moisture we got yesterday was enough to get through the top level. “What happens is if it was only the top layer that actually got a good soaking …with today’s temperature, it’s going to dry off, and we still have the vegetation underneath that’s still dry and that could present the problem of reignition,” Hay said. Earlier in the week, cell towers in the path of the fire were initially threatened, Hay said, but crews used bulldozers to remove vegetation nearby and created an area where there was “no fuel to burn,” he said. Firefighters from several area departments have been working alongside officials from the Department of Environmental Conservation, Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Office of Emergency Management. The fire, which started on Saturday afternoon near the Verkeerder Kill Falls trail, has been the focus of many residents, who have followed its progress and posted photos and videos on social media. Hay said he knows people want to hear good news, but he said they may have to wait. “We’re far from calling this under control. When they talk about containment…they talk about the ability to get in there and cut the fire lines and make it into a box, so it reaches a certain point and there’s no fuel anymore for it to burn,” he said. A tactic called “cold trailing” also will be employed to make certain the ash no longer is burning, Hay said.
mtnclimber
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Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:46 pm

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by mtnclimber »

There is a lot of dispute on the number of acres burned. I have seen 1574, 1897, and 3000.
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Jon
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Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:43 pm
Location: Bangor, PA

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by Jon »

those are pitch pines...
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Jon
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Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:43 pm
Location: Bangor, PA

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by Jon »

map

Image
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dave
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Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:14 pm
Location: Acra New York

Re: More Brush Fires

Unread post by dave »

Someone Emailed us today stating that it burned 2,028 acres. Thanks for the map Jon!
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