Warwick and Greenwood Lake Say a Fond Farewell to Volunteers

The daily schedule for the hundreds of firefighters who participated in the Jennings Creek fire was like a military deployment that required carefully coordinated logistics: places to sleep for shifts of teams, scheduled time to serve over 2,500 meals a day, medical care stations, drinking water stations, access to firefighting supplies, landing areas for the helicopters, fueling stations for fire equipment, police, EMS, toilets, showers, restaurants and other food suppliers, communication stations, and the command and control operations center that could share and deliver the latest info to the teams of professionals who needed it. All of this effort, like the fire suppression efforts of west coast teams who face inexorable conflagrations during fire season year after year, could not have been accomplished without state, county, and community resources working together.

Despite the collective and coordinated efforts of all the agencies, the fire still claimed the life of a young 17-year-old who had been trained to fight forest fires but who nonetheless became the only victim of this extensive fire that affected over 5,000 acres in New York and New Jersey. Dariel Rodriguez was killed by a falling tree while he was out working the fire in the Sterling Forest located near Greenwood Lake, New York. The Rockland County resident played baseball, was captain of his varsity team last year, and was voted best athlete even though he wasn’t a baseball player when he started high school. He saved his money, worked at ShopRite, and was working with New York State Parks as a Parks and Rec aid, trying to make money for college. Political leaders throughout the region continue to pay tribute to this brave young man and urge all to remember his efforts in trying to control the Jennings Creek fire.

When Greenwood Lake officials realized they were about to host a massive amount of fire fighters and other first responders, all Mayor Tom Howley could think of was how we are going to feed these professionals and what kind of temporary sleeping quarters can we arrange for them? Fortunately there was a dramatic response from all the community restaurant owners who quickly sprang into action and worked overtime to prepare breakfasts, lunch, and dinner around the clock and even arranging to deliver hot meals to the firefighters who were on the lines in the woods. One fireman remarked that he had “never been served lobster bisque and hot sandwiches before while fighting a forest fire.”

Then there was the issue of sleeping quarters. There were a handful of firemen who had come from Montana and Colorado who needed a place to sleep and a few from more distant New York and Pennsylvania locations. The Elks Lodge on Chestnut Street, a venue that’s often used for community gatherings like Oktoberfest, local group presentations, and other activities, played an important role in this effort. Founded in New York City on February 16, 1868, the Elks mission is “to inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, to provide for its government, and to serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.” Greenwood Lake’s lodge 2067 is one of nearly 2,000 lodges all over the country

Howley thanked the group for their relentless dedication and tireless support in defending the community. Collectively the firefighters and helicopters dropped nearly a half million gallons of water onto the fire before they got control. “Our appreciation for their efforts will always remain in our hearts and throughout the residents of the community,” said Howley. After serving a nice breakfast, it was time to say goodbye to these brave firefighters. “They have been working hard all week and I am sure that they look forward to going back to the comfort of their own homes” continued Howley.

Warwick Town Supervisor, Jesse Dwyer, took time to share and recognize the more than 200 Fire, EMS, law enforcement and state agencies from across 20 counties and five states that provided fire suppression and public safety measures during the Jennings Creek / Sterling Forest Wildfire. “I plan on personally sending certificates of recognition on behalf of the Town of Warwick to each and every one of these agencies and I encourage the public to consider sending letters of appreciation. Most of these agencies are volunteer and even if they are paid agencies, they each put their lives on the line to assist our community. We are forever grateful for their support,” he said. There were volunteers from Colorado, Montana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

By Nov. 22 they were successful in fully containing the fire, remarked Governor Hochul. “From the start, we launched a coordinated response with every available resource to help our first responders complete this mission, and could not have done this without the professional and volunteer crews that worked alongside our partners in New Jersey, and crews from Colorado and Montana. I thank all of them for their hard work, spending time away from their families and working tirelessly every day to keep New Yorkers safe.”

Following the rain and snow that fell recently to place a final coda on the Jennings Creek fire, power outages were reported in many areas throughout the region, with the largest power outages affecting residents on Cascade Rd (180 homes), Indian Park (224 homes), Old Dutch Hollow and Nelson Rd area (300+) and the 94 corridor by the New Jersey border (440 homes). Warwick’s Town DPW worked through the night cutting trees and clearing roads. Meanwhile, Orange & Rockland worked actively to restore power.

The Town of Warwick, working closely with Orange County Emergency Services, connects its three villages and eight hamlets to a variety of safety measures and early warning notices to protect residents and notify them in advance of unexpected weather conditions, including heavy rain, snow, fire, and potential tornado-like microbursts. The region remains under a fire watch and is closely monitoring water levels.

Photo credit: (provided) Members of Village of Greenwood Lake Board and Mayor, Members of Elks Lodge, say good-bye to visiting firefighters from Montana and Colorado

PRELIMINARY LIST OF PARTICIPATING FIRE DEPARTMENTS FROM STATES & COUNTIES

-Albany

Albany Pine Bush
Berne
Boght
Coeymans
East Berne
Friendship
Guilderland
North Bethlehem
Medusa
Pine Bush
Ravena
Rensselaerville
Selkirk
Stanford Heights
West Albany

-Allegany

Allentown
Clarksville
Cuba
Friendship FD
New Hudson
Richburg
Wellsville
Willing Vol Hose Co

-Broome

Five Mile Point
West Corners

-Columbia

Canaan
Claverack
Ghent
Greenport
Hudson
Kinderhook
Mellenville
Niverville
Stockport
Stottville
Stuyvesant
Taghkinic
Tri-Village
Bloomville
Roxbury
Stamford
Chelsea
East Fishkill
New Hamburgh
Pine Plane
Rhinebeck
Roosevelt

-Delaware

Bloomville
Roxbury
Stamford

-Dutchess

Roosevelt
Union Vale

-Greene

New Baltimore
Medway Grapeville
Catskill
Coxsackie Hose 3
East Durham
Palenville
Prattsville
Windham

-Oswego

Granby Center
Lacona
Novelis
Oswego Town
Phoenix
Volney

-Otsego

Gilbertsville
Milford
Mount Vision
Morris
Otego
Richfield Springs
Schenevus
Unadilla
W. Edmeston
West Laurens

-Putnam

Carmel
Lake Carmel
Mahopac Falls
Patterson

-Rockland

Blauvelt
Central Nyack
Hillburn
Hillcrest
Monsey
Nanuet
New City
Nyack
Orangeburg
Pearl River
Piermont
Sloatsburg
Sparkill
Stony Point
Suffern
Tallman
Thiells FD
Rockland Lake
Spring Valley
West Nyack
West Haverstraw

-Schoharie

Carlisle
Central Bridge
Cobleskill
Conesville
Esperance
Huntersland
Middleburgh
Richmondville
Schoharie CFC
Schoharie FD
Town of Broome
West Fulton

-Schuyler

Burdett
Montour Falls
Mecklenburg Volunteer Fire Company
Schuyler County FC
Watkins Glen

-Nassau (More incoming)

East Meadow FD
City of Long Beach

-Suffolk

Amagansett
Bridgehampton FD
Central Islip
Dix Hills
East Hampton
East Marion
Eastport
Greenport
Huntington
Mastic
Mattituck
North Babylon
Orient
Shelter Island
Sound Beach
South Hampton
Southampton
Suffolk County
Suffolk County CFC
West Islip

-Tioga

Apalachin
Campville FD
Newark Valley

-Tompkins

Dryden
Enfield
McLean
Varna

-Wayne

Alton/Wellington
E. Williamson

-Westchester

Bedford Hills
Buchanan
Croton Falls
Dobbs Ferry
Goldens Bridge
Katonah
Montrose
Somers
West Harrison
Westchester County

-Sullivan

Bloomingburg
Grahamsville
Hurleyville
Lumberland
Neversink
Summitville
Woodridge

-Ulster

Ellenville
Esopus
Marlboro
Modena
Walker Valley Chemical Engine #1
Plattekill
Sawkill
Ulster
Ulster Hose No 5
West Hurley

-Orange

OC Office of Emergency Management: Pete Cirigliano, Vinny Tankasali and Frank Cassanite
Campbell Hall
Chester
Circleville
Coldenham
Cornwall
Cornwall on Hudson
Cronomer Valley FD
Cuddebackville
Florida
Fort Montgomery
Goshen
Good Will Fd (Newburgh Twn)
Greenville
Greenwood Lake
Highland Falls
Howells
Johnson
Kiryas Joel
Maybrook
Mechanicstown
Middletown
Middle Hope
Monroe
Montgomery
New Hampton
New Windsor
Orange Lake
Winona Lake
Pine Bush
Pine Island FD
Poctello
Port Jervis
Salisbury Mills
Silver Lake
Slate Hill
South Blooming Grove
Sparrowbush
Tuxedo
Warwick
Washingtonville
West Point
Woodbury