A brush fire caused by lightning strikes in mid-September on the Warren-Cornwall line is the longest burning forest fire, as well as the largest in the state in recent history, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The fire was contained within Wyantenock State Forest in Cornwall until this weekend, when it did spread to around 20 acres of private property.
The fire is now estimated to have burned around 250 acres, some of it from controlled burns used to manage the fire, according to DEEP.
The fire has not threatened any homes or structures, according to DEEP, and DEEP Forestry staff, as well as firefighters from departments in Cornwall, Warren and Washington were at the scene today.
Crews established a control area on the north side of the fire and set a “backburn” to the south to burn off leaves, branches and other natural debris to slow spread of the fire.
DEEP expects the back burn to cover more than 100 acres today.
- The ongoing drought conditions are a major reason why this fire has continued to burn. It is also in an area with many ledges and heavy brush, making it difficult for fire fighters to combat it effectively.
