3-Acre Brush Fire In Mahopac Spurs Wildfire Warning

MAHOPAC, NY — After a 3-acre brush fire in Mahopac threatened homes and burned for almost 24 hours, the day after a small wildland fire in Croton Falls, state officials are warning New Yorkers to take extra caution due to this year’s warm and dry winter season.

"While the statewide burn ban doesn’t take effect until March 16, the majority of the State’s land is dry and brown," Department of Environmental Conservation officials said. "Without any new or additional snowfall, the dry, dormant vegetation is primed to burn and facilitate the spread of a wildfire."

At 3:26 p.m. Feb. 15, the Mahopac Volunteeer Fire Department and Carmel police were dispatched to a wildland fire near 50 Astor Drive. The first arriving units confirmed an active brush fire that was making its way rapidly up the hill towards Tulip Road, department officials said on Facebook.

The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services 911 started to take additional calls from residents on Tulip Road reporting the fire was approaching the deck of one of the homes.

Mahopac received assistance from Mahopac Falls, Carmel, Somers, and Croton Falls fire departments with manpower and tankers. Companies operated on both sides of the fire from Astor Drive and Tulips Road to bring the brush fire under control, MVFD officials said.

New York Forest Ranger Lieutenant Yuko Ashida and Ranger Griggsby Cowart also responded. They continued putting out hot spots to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes, DEC officials said.

On Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m., DEC rangers declared the fire out.

For the Croton Falls firefighters, it was the second brush fire in 72 hours. Around 3 a.m. Feb 14, Croton Falls fought a brush fire near Old Salem Center Road and Titicus Road that threatened a structure. Firefighters from South Salem and Bedford Hills assisted.

According to the DEC, "The wildland/urban interface is any location where human structures and woodlands intermingle, allowing a wildland fire to reach beyond trees, brush, and other natural fuels to ignite homes and their immediate surroundings.

"Since 2009, wildfires in New York have destroyed 10 homes and threatened 219. There was one fatality and 44 others were injured as a result of wildfires during this time.

"Homeowners and communities can take steps to reduce the risk of wildland fire and protect their lives and property from wildland fire."

For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC's FIREWISE New York website.

Nearly nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by humans and could have been prevented, according to smokeybear.com.