Rockland County Fire Departments Battle Brush Fire under Challenging Conditions

By: Rockland Daily Staff 

Monday afternoon around 4:00, the Thiells Fire Department received a call reporting a brush fire near the Jackie Jones Tower, located near the Yellow Trail in Harriman State Park. 

The problem was that Thiells FD’s brush vehicle—designed to fight brush fires— was already in use in Orangetown, so the Sloatsburg Fire Department sent in their brush vehicle, which immediately confirmed the presence of a large brush fire, estimated at three acres, burning actively. 

This immediately activated about a dozen Rockland County emergency departments whose personnel soon converged on the scene. 

“Due to the remote location of the incident, weather conditions, and the nearest water supply being about a mile east, crews had to hike a quarter mile into the woods,” said Thiells Fire Chief Daniel Coughlin. “Specialized equipment such as 4x4 brush vehicles, as well as medium-sized brush vehicles, were required to reach the fire. Firefighters established two fire lines around the fire with hand tools to prevent the spread and applied over 16,300 gallons of water on the fire.” 

By 8:30 p.m. the crews left the area, having cleared the brush fire.