Brush fire burning on state land near Dutchess border

22 September 2019

Published by https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/

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USA – State park officials were battling a 14-acre brush fire Saturday on the Putnam County side of a state park that extends into Dutchess County, officials said.

No one has been reported injured by the blaze in Hudson Highlands State Park, which was first reported around 5 p.m. Friday, said Dan Keefe, a spokesman for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Officials had no time estimate on when the blaze might be contained.

The fire originated in the area of Sugarloaf Mountain, Keefe said. No buildings were threatened.

Smoke from the fire could be seen Saturday from Beacon but the blaze had not spread to the city and the Beacon Fire Department had not responded to it as of Saturday, said Beacon Mayor Randy Casale.

Phil Pitner of Newburgh watched the smoke from Orange County and told the Journal that helicopters appeared to be battling the blaze from the sky.

State park officials are being assisted by Department of Environmental Control Forest Rangers and the state police.