Crews extinguish brush fires at Castleton solar farm
CASTLETON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Castleton Fire Department, crews put out a brush fire on River Road at Pure Energy Solar Farm on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The farm is on a 40-acre site at the end of a long, narrow road.
The fire department was dispatched on Saturday at around 4:15 p.m. for the reported outdoor fire inside the solar farm's fence. Crews also saw some spare panels on fire upon arrival.
According to the fire department, mutual aid had to be called due to the wind carrying the fire and embers, limited manpower, and being far from water sources. Agencies involved were Castleton Ambulance, Clinton Heights Fire Department, East Greenbush Fire Department, East Schodack Fire Department, Nassau Fire Department, Schodack Landing Fire Department, Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Ranger, Best Luther Fire Department, Schodack Valley Fire Department, South Schodack Fire Department, Stuyvesant Fire Department, Kinderhook Fire Department, Niverville Fire Department, Valatie Fire Department, Rensselaer County Drone Response Team, and Schodack Police Department.
Crews worked until 10 p.m. to put the fire out since a fire was working its way down a ravine. They were then called back to extinguish another fire that broke out while the command staff was speaking with the landowner at around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
The command staff of the Castleton Fire Department met with the DEC Forest Ranger on-site to investigate the cause of the fire. The fire department says a fire break in the ravine was created to prevent the smoldering logs from reigniting due to the fire danger level.
The fire's cause is still under investigation by the DEC Forest Rangers.
Read the latest from NEWS10:
- Baby powder sold in 35 states recalled due to potential asbestos contamination
- Middleburgh HS student designs village's first official flag
- How often has the World Series ended in a sweep?
- Amsterdam Castle selling for $5.6M
- 'Home Improvement' star arrested for DUI once again: 'I'm sorry I like to drink'
NEWS10 is the Capital Region's local news leader!