By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
COEYMANS — Firefighters from several local fire companies were deployed downstate last week to fight the spreading wildfires in Orange County.
The Ravena Fire Department sent a crew of six volunteer firefighters who were deployed for three days, according to Deputy Fire Chief Travis Witbeck.
The six Ravena firefighters who answered the call were Chief Kevin Phillips, Captain Michael Mattick, Lieutenant Jack Morrow, Lieutenant Devin Knight, and firefighters Connor Weidman and Michael Anderson.
Witbeck said the wildfires, which have been burning for weeks and at one point brought smoke and haze miles away to the Capital Region, provided intense challenges for the fire crews on site and required the assistance of firefighters from across the state.
“A large-scale incident, such as the wildfires downstate that have ravaged on for several weeks, is incredibly taxing for the first responders in those areas,” Witbeck said. “When these incidents outpace their available resources, they rely on the confidence that others will answer their call for help. Firefighters from not only our department, but from across the state who were willing to take time away from their families and careers to help try and bring these fires under control, exemplifies the brotherhood of the fire service and is what helps further contain these fires.”
Several fire companies in the area have answered the call. In addition to Ravena, the fire departments in Coeymans Hollow, Selkirk, New Baltimore, Medusa and others from the Capital Region also sent volunteers to help get the flames under control.
The departments’ assistance was requested through the New York State Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan Activation.
The Selkirk Fire Department sent eight firefighters, also to Orange County, to help battle the blaze. The crew left Selkirk on Nov. 13, according to a statement from the department.
“At 9 a.m. they started working with other fire departments in digging a fire line near Greenwood Lake,” according to the statement. “Fire lines are used to prevent the spread of large outdoor fires. By digging down into the dirt, eliminating leaves, branches, etc., you eliminate the ‘fuel’ outdoor fires use to burn and spread.”
The crew also brought equipment to help fight the wildfires, including a brush truck, Gator UTV, pick-up truck and brush equipment trailer.
A crew of five volunteers from the Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation was sent to the Jennings Creek wildfire in Orange County.
Albany County Sheriff’s Office Fire Coordinator Chief Gerald Paris Jr. issued a statement Nov. 13 thanking the area’s firefighters for their work.
“The Albany County Fire Coordinator’s Office would like to thank all the county departments and their members who were deployed so far this week to help contain the wildland fires in the downstate area,” Paris said.
Other departments also expressed willingness to help but were not yet asked to assist at press time, he added.
“In addition to the departments actually deployed, the response to the request for availability from other departments has been tremendous and we would also like to thank all who volunteered who were not needed as of this point in time,” Paris added.
No local firefighters suffered injuries in the deployments.
The blazes have been difficult to bring under control because of dry and windy conditions that helped the flames to spread.
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statewide burn ban through the end of the month as dry and windy conditions continued to increase the risk for wildfires.
“It is absolutely critical that New Yorkers avoid any outdoor burning at this time,” Hochul said in a press conference last Tuesday. “We’re announcing today a statewide burn ban because the threats are too great. And we cannot have our resources directed to smaller fires. We need everybody, all hands on deck, on the major-scale fires we have right here.”
The burn ban remains in effect until Nov. 30, as of press time.
“This ban prohibits the starting of outdoor fires statewide for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires and open fires used for cooking,” Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said. “Backyard fire pits and small, contained campfires and cooking fires are still permitted.”
