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Clarification: The piece of land identified in this article is part of the Hudson Highlands State Park, which abuts the Camp Smith military reservation. In an earlier version of this story, the piece of land was incorrectly identified as Bear Mountain.
CORTLANDT, N.Y. A brush fire which burned 3 acres of land in Hudson Highlands State Park has grown to about 20 acres, according to Charlie Valt, chief of the Continental Village Fire Department. The fire is located on a steep and remote location on the mountain, near Anthonys Nose and Camp Smith.
Valt said as of noon Thursday there were no structures or roads nearby which were threatened, and the fire was under control. At one point Wednesday evening, the fire had travelled down the mountain near Bear Mountain Bridge Road, also known as the Goat Trail, Continental Village firefighters were called in to extinguish the fire.
This size doesnt come too often, we usually deal with little smaller ones. Our department hasnt had one this size since probably about 10, 15 years, said Valt.
The department began working the fire yesterday afternoon, parks officials said the fire was first reported at approximately 2 p.m. After 10 p.m. Continental Village firefighters were called in, and returned at approximately 7 a.m. Thursday morning.
Plumes of smoke could be seen coming from the mountain top Wednesday evening, especially by those driving over the Bear Mountain Bridge toward Westchester County. As the sun came out before dusk, a haze could be seen hanging in the valley.
Its under control, we still have some hot spots, said Valt. The chief said his biggest concern was winds, which were supposed to pick up about 1 p.m. Thursday.
Valt said all-terrain vehicles were being used to transport workers and supplies to the scene of the fire, which is so remote that no pump engines or vehicles are able to directly access it at this time.
About 25 to 30 members of the Continental Village Fire Department remained in the woods as of 12 p.m. Thursday, along with some members of the Montrose Veterans Affairs Fire Department and the Garrison Fire Department, said Valt.
Westchester County choppers could be seen Wednesday afternoon, flying multiple 200-gallon buckets of Hudson River water into the heart of the fire, dumping over the woods in Hudson Highlands State Park. As of Thursday morning, Kieran OLeary of the Westchester County Police said the choppers had been called back, but were available to support the firefighters if necessary.
Valt said the majority of the fire was burning near the mountains portion of the Appalachian Trail, and between three and five acres of Camp Smiths property were still burning.
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