Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced New York State has deployed resources, including state firefighters and equipment, like helicopters, to fight a wildland fire underway in Sullivan and Ulster counties that has already burned approximately 2,284 acres and is 75 percent contained. In addition, Governor Cuomo activated the Fire Operations Center at the NYS Emergency Operations Center, which is coordinating fire department resource requests. The Center has bolstered State and local responders with additional firefighting forces from other counties.

“We have deployed emergency personnel to help local firefighters, and all have been working tirelessly to contain these wildfires,” Governor Cuomo said. “The safety of New Yorkers living in the path of these fires remains our top priority and we are urging all those in the area to stay informed, be aware of current dangers, and remain cautious when outdoors.”

Numerous state assets from the Division of Homeland Security, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Police, Department of Transportation and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs are helping local firefighting efforts, with additional fire department assistance from Greene, Schoharie, Delaware and Broome counties.

New York also requested the assistance of a “Fire Boss” air tanker plane from Canada that can scoop and carry 800 gallons of water while flying and then drop the water on the fire. The specialized fire suppression plane is expected to arrive and begin operations early this afternoon.

Out of an abundance of caution, first responders evacuated approximately 30 homes Monday in the Hamlet of Cragsmoor, along Route 52 in Ulster County. A reception center has been established at the Walker Valley Fire Department for those that have been evacuated from their homes as flames have spread from Sullivan County into Ulster County. These evacuees are now able to return to their homes, although additional evacuations may be required later today.

Conditions are favorable for additional brush fires throughout New York State and red flag warnings are expected from the National Weather Service later in the week. A Red Flag Warning indicates that fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly, and is declared when a combination of strong winds, very low relative humidity and warm temperatures create volatile fire growth potential.

Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in the state. When temperatures are warmer and grasses and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily and be further fueled by winds and the lack of green vegetation.

Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. To view an updated map of fire danger ratings in New York, visit, http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/68329.html.

New York State assets currently deployed to fight the fires include:

New York State Police

· Two State Police helicopters with water dropping capability (Bambi buckets) along with one fixed wing aircraft doing reconnaissance and surveillance over the affected area.

Division of Military and Naval Affairs

· Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters equipped with Bambi buckets which can dump 660 gallons of water on a fire, and ten soldiers to man the helicopters, have been dispatched to support Sullivan County fire fighters.

Department of Environmental Conservation

· Deployed 22 DEC Forest Rangers to battle the wildfires in Sullivan and Ulster counties. In addition, DEC has deployed 70 Forest Rangers across the state to 26 other fires, which are now contained, over the past three days.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Offices

Interoperable and Emergency Communications
· Command, control and communications vehicles and radio operators on scene

Office of Fire Prevention and Control

· Communications van, Resource Tracking Trailer and approximately six personnel are staffing the Fire Operations Center and are staffed and operational at the NYS Emergency Operations Center
· Six staff on site performing resource tracking, communications support, and assisting with operational coordination.

Office of Emergency Management

· An Incident Management Team to assist with planning and logistics
· Regional Staff to assist and coordinate assets and support to local Emergency Managers

Department of Transportation

A bulldozer and operator working as part of a team to contain the fire by cutting breaks that remove brush and other fuel from the ground ahead of the fire’s path.

Additionally, two palates of bottled water from the State’s stockpile in Bloomingburg have been sent to the scene for first responders and residents affected by the fire.

State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner John P. Melville said, “The Offices of Fire Prevention and Control, Emergency Management and Interoperable and Emergency Communications will continue to assist Sullivan and Ulster counties with assets, manpower and logistics support to extinguish these fires. Additionally, we are observing higher temperatures, low humidity and gusty conditions throughout the state which are ideal conditions for fueling brush fires. Be mindful of all state and local laws regarding brush burning and take appropriate safety precautions regarding any outdoor fires to protect yourself, your household and your community.”

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens said, “Our teams are well-trained to battle wildfires and were deployed quickly to contain and extinguish more than a dozen fires across the state. The best protection against fires is prevention. While most current fires are small, there is great risk for them to burn out of control. We urge people to be extra cautious – don’t burn trash or debris in wooded areas, completely extinguish campfires and don’t toss cigarette ashes on the ground. Smart behavior is critical to keeping our state and people safe during the current high-risk fire season.”

Since 2009, New York State has enforced a residential brush burning ban for towns with less than 20,000 residents from March 16 through May 14, the period when most wildfires occur. Some towns, primarily in and around the Adirondack Park and Catskill Park, are designated “fire towns,” and open burning is prohibited year-round in these municipalities unless an individual or group has a written permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation. Violators of the open burning regulation are subject to both criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense.

In the five-year period since the ban was enacted, the average number of spring fires per year decreased from 3,297 to 1,425 or 43.2 percent.

(YWN Sullivan County Newsroom)