The trace of rain on Sunday night did little to quench the regional drought deficit, but it did help firefighters gain headway against several brush fires still ablaze across the Hudson Valley, including a 600-acre brush fire in Ulster County and a 5,000-acre fire near Greenwood Lake on the border of Orange County that claimed the life of an 18-year-old firefighter.
During a press conference on Monday afternoon, officials said the large brush fire in Sterling Forest State Park on the border of New York and New Jersey is estimated to “cover 2,500 acres in New York State, and 2,500 acres in New Jersey.” The fire is 20-percent contained as of Monday afternoon.
While there are no mandatory evacuation orders currently in place, a dozen homeowners voluntarily evacuated their homes near the fire line on Sunday night, according to officials. The Red Cross has set up a temporary shelter at the Greenwood Lake Community Center, located at 51 Waterstone Road, Greenwood Lake, New York, for anyone in need of assistance. Residents across the region are advised to adhere to burn bans, and report any active flames to 9-1-1.
“Make no mistake, this is one of the worst natural disasters the Town of Warwick has seen in many, many years,” Town of Warwick Supervisor Jesse Dwyer said.
