Fire Damages Ulster Park

By Ona Zachary
16:58, April 21st 2008
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Fire Damages Ulster Park

Firefighters struggled on Sunday to stop a fast-moving fire that destroyed around 3,000 acres of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve near New Paltz, N.Y.

Favorable weather helped slow the fire, which started Thursday in the northeast of the park, about 90 miles north of New York City in Ulster County.

"It is definitely over 3,000 acres at this point," said Yancey Roy, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, according to Daily Freeman. "Several things worked in our favor (Sunday). The weather was very cooperative in terms of aiding firefighter efforts. Combine that with aggressive bucket drops from helicopters and the end result is that they slowed the advance of the fire."

The cooler temperatures and higher air humidity were of great help in containing the blaze, as the rough terrain made it difficult for firefighters to reach many places in the park.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, but some residents in the area were told to prepare for evacuation.

The fire has been fueled by wind, as well as by the dry underbrush that consisted of pitch pine and mountain laurel, but the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

The National Weather Service reported smoke affecting visibility in the Ulster area and all roads into the park were closed. The Weather Service also forecasted diminishing winds overnight and relative humidity, although no rain is expected. These conditions should help the firefighters stop the fire for good.

The hot temperature and windy weather has caused dozens of brush fires to occur around the state in the past week.



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