Three Counties Fight
Brush Fire Along RR Line
Volunteers Work with State Agencies to Control Blaze
By DARLA M. YOUNGS
RICHMONDVILLE
More than 150 firefighters from Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties battled on Wednesday, April 12 to contain multiple fires along the Delaware and Hudson South Line railroad tracks. Fire was first detected in Richmondville at approximately 2:10 p.m., at which time the Richmondville Fire Department requested assistance from the East Worcester FD.
Shortly after the East Worcester fire department was dispatched, it was discovered that more than one fire had developed along the tracks. Fire departments from all three counties were called in to contain the conflagration, which had moved into neighboring Worcester, according to Victor F.C. Jones, emergency services coordinator for Otsego County.
“At my request, the New York State Police Department was brought in with drones, to assess the progression of the fire as it climbed the mountain,” Jones said.
Also assisting the all-volunteer fire department response were the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Transportation, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, and Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, state forest rangers, and the Schoharie County and Otsego County sheriff’s departments.
“Thursday was operational period number two, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with about 80 percent containment in Otsego County and 100 percent containment in Schoharie County,” Jones continued.
By mid-afternoon on Friday, April 14—operational period number three—Jones reported 100 percent containment in both counties, but not before hundreds of acres had been burned and charred.
High winds and dry vegetation fueled the flames over a forested area more than six miles long, spreading from Schoharie County into Otsego County.
“A total of 241 acres was burned. The cause of the fire is being listed as accidental, nothing additional,” Jones said. “There was one injury to report but the individual is recovering and no further details can be provided.”
The fire is rumored to have been the result of either a railroad brush clearing car sending sparks along the tracks or a passing Northern Suffolk train. Northern Suffolk owns the rail line. At the time of the blaze, the area was in a NYSDEC “high fire danger zone.” High fire danger is described by the DEC as follows: “All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes. Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes or in concentrations of fine fuels. Fires may become serious and their control difficult unless they are attacked successfully while small.”
Though open burning is not linked to last week’s fire, it is important to note that New York State’s annual burn ban began on March 16 and ends on May 14. Since 2009, NYSDEC has enforced this annual burn ban to reduce the number of wildfires and their subsequent damage.