First responders have been fighting to contain the fire burning in Minnewaska State Park Preserve since Saturday. Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the scene on Thursday and provided an update on their tireless efforts.

Crews have been working on the ground for almost a week in hot, dry conditions and steep terrain to get the fire under control. On Thursday, Hochul also thanked them for their hard work.

“You’re all here,” Hochul said. “You’re here because your state needs you.”

Two hundred-and-seventy acres of forest have burned since a lightning strike sparked the Napanoch Point Fire in the wooded park preserve Saturday.

Over 200 forest rangers, volunteers and firefighters from as far away as Quebec, Canada have lent a hand to help extinguish the stubborn blaze, which started amid a severe lack of rain in the area.

National Guard Black Hawk and State Police helicopters are also pitching in from the sky. On Thursday, Hochul expressed concern that a wildfire of this size could form this time of year.

“The dry conditions that are very challenging, that usually happens much earlier in the summer. So to have this going on this time of year is another one of those signs out there that this is not normal. On the other hand, we ask ourselves, 'What is normal anymore in an era of dramatic climate change events?” said Hochul.

The dry conditions on the ground are making it hard to contain the fire. It grew from an estimated 30 acres on Monday to 270 acres on Wednesday and back down to 160 acres Thursday.

The fire is now 20% contained. No homes or structures have been lost. To protect homes closest to the fire, crews are working to establish a fire line in the town of Warwarsing.

Officials are also warning residents to be fire safe throughout the region.

“If you have any type of outdoor fire, you are absolutely responsible for putting it all the way out. Do not leave embers burning,” said Jackie Bray, the commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. “Things like smoking or the use of sparklers or anything like that, it’s a really bad time to have very hot things or flames of any kind.”

In what will come as unfortunate news for those with plans to visit Minnewaska State Park this weekend, the park will be closed through the holiday weekend.

Parks officials say they’ll watch conditions and reopen the park once the fire is put out.