HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y. (WCAX) – New York firefighters are battling the state’s largest fire since 2008.
Governor Kathy Hochul says it‘s an all-hands-on-deck effort to control fires in the state’s Hudson Valley region, an area about an hour south of Albany.
Hochul says the state’s Forest Rangers are leading the effort, while park staff clear brush to prevent the fire from spreading.
The response also includes National Guard troops and helicopters with water drops.
Hochul says doing your part during the drought is important. “Please be careful, monitor the forecasts and pay attention to alerts from local law enforcement in the short term while there is an active fire. Don’t be burning outdoors and be watching your water use. We have a drought watch right now, we’re in a moderate drought. It could get worse. Your own usage of water is important to us.”
Gov. Hochul said high wind in the forecast for that region could help the fire spread and her administration is prepared to deploy more people to the region if needed.