Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus declared a state of emergency Wednesday to close a roadway and Greenwood school while firefighters and park rangers continue battling a massive wildfire in the area.
In a video posted on Facebook, Neuhaus said the state of emergency will enable them to close a part of East Shore Road in Warwick so firefighters can conduct back burning, and close the local school classes on Thursday and Friday.
He said people shouldn't panic about about the declaration, but the expected back burning and arrival of Chinooks helicopters, which carry more than double the amount of water than helicopters now employed, could create a lot more smoke in the coming days.
As public safety officials urged people in the Jennings Creek/Sterling State Park area to remain calm, the situation had clearly become distressing for many in the area.
“It’s very stressful, that’s for sure,” said Manny Danave, who was anxious watching the flames move down the ridge overlooking Greenwood Lake.
His daughter lives close to the forest fire.
“They’ve been cut off from power because of this fire and she’s nervous,” Danave said. “They got a young kid, 3 years old. It’s scary, scary. Luckily, she’s got family in the area. She’s got me, she’s got her in-laws and they were able to get the child over there and the dog and personal belongings, just in case anything happens.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said the fire was about 30% contained and affecting more than 4,300 acres. While there were no mandatory evacuations, about 100 homes were within a quarter-mile of the fire in New York.
DEC asked people to remain vigilant for updates.
“We’ve got a good distance right now. We have a containment line set up, it’s not to that line yet. We’re letting this fire back down to us, where we can make a stand and have plenty of resources to put it out,” Forest Ranger Bryan Gallagher said.
The wind direction on Wednesday assisted firefighters. Gallagher said such conditions will remain favorable until Saturday, when wind direction could change.
“On a north wind, it’s going to slowly creep toward us. We don’t have those running headfires toward us, it’s slowly creeping. And that’s why we’re going to let it come to us and then apply water,” Gallagher said.
Danave was keeping a close eye on the wind and fire. And having an evacuation plan, just in case.
“Me and the wife packed a little box with our important stuff. A house is a house, it can be replaced. But you know what? It’s scary because a house is a lot of memories,” Danave said.
The developments came as more emergency crews were sent to the area.
The Columbia County Fire Coordinator's office says six more crews were being deployed for a 72-hour assignment to fight large-scale brush fires in the Hudson Valley. Other volunteers recently completed assignments in support of the large-scale brush fires in the Greenwood Lake area. Officials say more than 100 volunteers were sent to the Hudson Valley for support.
More companies and crews from Columbia County are waiting to help out if needed.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation said Wednesday that fire lines held overnight and was being "monitored and patrolled by fire suppression resources to ensure it remains inside the fire line." The DEC added that, Tuesday, state police and National Guard helicopters dropped 177 water buckets on the fire, with four helicopters in the air to fight the fire today.
The statewide burn ban was still in place.
Town of Warwick officials said Wednesday morning that fire has reached along the East Shore straightaway, and that the plan is for crews to "direct the fire around homes and burn off as much fuel sources as possible" to avoid houses catching fire. East Shore Road in Warwick is closed to non-local traffic, with the Jersey side closed to all traffic.