Mohonk Preserve forest fire declared fully contained

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Photo courtesy of the New Paltz FD.

NEW PALTZ – A brush fire that was discovered on the ridgeline of the Mohonk Preserve Wednesday afternoon has been declared fully-contained by New Paltz Fire Chief Cory Wirthman as of Friday evening.  The stubborn fire has been labeled as the Cragswood Fire due to the access point used to battle the blaze.

Chief Wirthman indicated that Thursday night’s rainfall helped diminish the flames.  “After fighting steep treacherous terrain, heat, rain, bees, rattlesnakes, limited visibility, fatigue and most of all, the fire, we can now say that this fire is 100% contained,” said Wirthman Friday night.

The fire has been contained to approximately five acres of land along the top of the preserve.  Firefighters and rangers battled the fire all day on Thursday, containing approximately 70% of it before being forced off the mountain due to severe storms in the area.

No structures were in danger of the course of the 2.5 days that the fire was burning 4.6 acres of the mountain and no injuries were reported.  Wirthman expects operations to wind down over the weekend.  The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation/

A statement from the Mohonk Preserve indicated that the Spring Farm Trailhead and Bonticou Crag have been reopened.

The well-coordinated efforts of the following departments and agencies were thanked by Chief Wirthman:

  • Gardiner FD,
  • Highland FD,
  • Walker Valley FD,
  • Accord FD,
  • Esopus FD,
  • Tillson FD,
  • Modena FD,
  • Ulster Hose FD,
  • Marlborough FD,
  • Bloomington FD,
  • Rifton FD,
  • New Paltz FD,
  • New Paltz Rescue Squad,
  • New Paltz Police Department,
  • Ulster County Sheriff’s Department,
  • Ulster County Department of Emergency Services and Emergency Management,
  • NYS Forest Rangers,
  • Mohonk Preserve Rangers,
  • NYC Department of Environmental Protection,
  • Mohonk Mountain House,
  • Town of New Paltz Highway Department,
  • Village of New Paltz DPW,
  • New Paltz FD Auxiliary, and
  • NY State Police Aviation units that supplied helicopter support.



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