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Dutchess County Fire Departments Deployed to Assist with Ulster County Wildland Fires

Published: 8/31/2022

For More Information Contact:

Dana Smith, Commissioner
Dutchess County Emergency Response
(845) 486-2080

Poughkeepsie… Several Dutchess County fire departments have deployed resources to assist with the suppression efforts of two wildland fires at the Napanoch Point and Stony Kill areas of Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County. The Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response (DER) is working with the local departments to respond to the inter-county mutual aid request from Ulster County Emergency Services and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers.

Nearly 20 firefighters have responded with a variety of equipment resources including utility terrain vehicles (UTV) and support vehicles with firefighting capabilities. According to the DEC Forest Rangers, the fire is believed to have been started by a lightning strike on August 27th, however suppression efforts have been challenging due to the extremely dry conditions and difficult terrain of the area. Dutchess County DER will continue to coordinate mutual aid efforts as necessary.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “We have been actively communicating with officials from the State and Ulster County to offer our assistance with getting the fires at Napanoch Point and Stony Kill at Minnewaska under control. We are grateful to the firefighters from departments across Dutchess County who have answered the call to provide necessary support in battling this challenging wildfire.”

Responding fire departments include:

  • New Hamburg Fire Department
  • Milan Fire Department
  • Tivoli Fire Department
  • Union Vale Fire Department

Napanoch Point and Stony Kill are located within the Minnewaska State Park Preserve and feature very remote and rugged terrain that is difficult to access. Hundreds of emergency crews have responded to address the fires. The Napanoch Point fire has scorched approximately 130 to 150 acres; the smaller fire at Stony Kill was detected Tuesday, August 30th and is approximately 0.68 acres.