More than 50 firefighters respond to LaGrangeville brush fire

LAGRANGEVILLE – More than 50 firefighters responded to a four-alarm brush fire in the hamlet Sunday.

The blaze began around 11:49 a.m. at 1435 Route 55 near the intersection of Route 82. Heavy smoke could be seen several miles away at Freedom Road and James Baird State Park.

Wind, a “fresh coat of dry leaves” and the “steep” hill made for a difficulty in fighting the blaze, Frank Ludwig, public information officer for the Pleasant Valley Fire Department, said. “It’s a bad combination,” he said.

Firefighters attacked the blaze from “all angles,” Ludwig said. Using ATVs, firefighters climbed the hill and fought the fire from the other side.

It’s unknown how many acres were damaged because of the fire, Ludwig said. No structures were damaged. The fire was contained at 3:39 p.m., but firefighters worked a few hours more to extinguish any any hot spots.

Firefighters from Pawling, East Fishkill, East Clinton, Pleasant Valley, Beekman, Union Vale, Millbrook and other departments assisted LaGrange. Mobile Life Support and New York State Department of Conservation rangers were also at the scene.

Amanda J. Purcell: apurcell@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4807; Facebook.com/pojopurcell; Twitter: @amandajpurcell