The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

The Careless Toss Of A Cigarette May Be The Cause Of A Large Fire In The Woods Along The Grafton-Pittstown Line

By

More Than 100 Firefighters Respond 

To A Blaze In The Grafton Woods

By Doug La Rocque

It took more than 100 firefighters from 14 different Rensselaer County departments nearly six hours to extinguish a woods and brush fire burning on state land off Edelmann Lane, mostly in the Town of Grafton near the Pittstown line.  Grafton Chief Jim Goyer said there were no injuries in the Wednesday blaze, which was difficult to fight because of the terrain and lack of water.  Overall, Goyer estimates the amount of land consumed by the fire to be about 14 acres.

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Smoke billows from the woods along Grafton’s northern border, burning an estimated 14 acres. See story on page 2. Photo courtesy of Pittstown Volunteer Fire Department
Smoke billows from the woods along Grafton’s northern border, burning an estimated 14 acres. See story on page 2. Photo courtesy of Pittstown Volunteer Fire Department

The Pittstown Fire Department was one of the first called to the scene, but it soon became apparent it was in the Grafton Fire District, though in a portion of the district that is not readily accessible from the village.  County Fire Officials and three New York State Park Rangers also responded to the scene.  With the blaze apparently out, Chief Goyer sent all department home a little before 9 pm.  He said he did not want anyone endangering themselves in the woods at night.  The Rangers returned to the scene Thursday and Friday, with the fire officially declared out on Friday.

Members of The Pittstown Fire Department check for hotspots after the blaze had been extinguished. Photo courtesy of the Pittstown Volunteer Fire Department.
Members of The Pittstown Fire Department check for hotspots after the blaze had been extinguished.
Photo courtesy of the Pittstown Volunteer Fire Department.

While the cause remains under investigation, fire officials believe someone driving by and carelessly tossing aside a lit cigarette is what started the fire.  The woods are dry. Fire conditions remain high in the County, with several red flag days being posted by the National Weather Service.  Rainfall totals more than two inches below normal this year coupled with several days of brisk winds, have helped fuel many brush fires around the County this past week.  New York State has a ban on all open burning in effect until May 16.

Goyer said members of many of the departments along with County Fire Officials and Park Rangers will gather next Monday, May 2, to critique their response to the fire, go over what they did right, and what could have been done better. [/private]