CRAGSMOOR – Some 300 acres of the Sam’s Point Preserve are
on fire as local and state first responders continue to battle the flames.
Over 40 state personnel are assisting the 80 local volunteer firefighters
from 13 area departments since the wildfire began Saturday.
State Police helicopters have completed about 20 water-dropping operations
with water taken from local ponds or lakes being dropped on the hottest
parts of the fire.
Fire continued to rage on Sunday (Photo: Orange and Rockland County
Fire Facebook page)
The Sam’s Point Preserve, located on the highest section of the
Shawangunk Mountains, is difficult to battle due to the mountainous terrain.
The Sam’s Point Preserve and Minnewaska State Park are closed because
of the fire.
The state bans residential brush-burning in towns with fewer than 20,000
residents from March 16 through May 14. Some towns, primarily in and around
Catskill Park and Adirondack Park are designated “fire towns,”
and open burning is prohibited year-round there unless an individual or
group has a written permit from the state 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.
