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Fremont brush fire

Matt Shortall - Co-editor
Posted 4/8/21

On Tuesday, April 6 multiple fire departments responded to reports of a working brush fire near Deer Lake Road.

Rosemary Steuber and her family live in the hamlet of Acidalia in the Town of …

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Fremont brush fire

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On Tuesday, April 6 multiple fire departments responded to reports of a working brush fire near Deer Lake Road.

Rosemary Steuber and her family live in the hamlet of Acidalia in the Town of Fremont and were witnesses to the brush fire less than half a mile from their residence.

“We were very concerned,” Steuber said. “We knew there's a burn ban right now, and there aren't many houses in that area, so we're not quite sure how it could have started.”

Steuber said she and her husband were outside raking dead leaves on their property when they could smell something burning and noticed the valley filling with smoke. They spread out to alert their neighbors and that's when Steuber and her daughter saw the burning leaves and trees on fire.

First responders arrived on the scene within ten minutes. Responding departments included East Branch, Hancock, Long Eddy and Roscoe.

“We really appreciate all of the volunteer firefighters that came to protect our homes,” Steuber said.

As the Democrat reported on March 30, fire departments throughout Sullivan County are experiencing an increased number of fires so far this year.

According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures are warmer and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily and be further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. The DEC says that in 2020 alone Forest Rangers extinguished 192 wildfires that burned a total of more than 1,122 acres.

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