10/27/2026
RENSSELAER COUNTY WILDFIRE UPDATE | THIRD DAY OF OPERATIONS
For the third consecutive day, firefighters, emergency management personnel, and supporting agencies from across New York and Massachusetts continue working tirelessly to contain a significant wildfire that began Sunday morning in the Town of Berlin.
The fire, which originated near Mattison Hollow along the Taconic Crest Trail, has now grown to approximately 200 acres, extending across the state line into Massachusetts. Crews continue working toward 100% containment while battling some of the most difficult terrain our region has to offer.
Steep mountainsides, rocky conditions, limited access, and extremely dry vegetation have made this an incredibly challenging operation. In many areas, firefighters must travel considerable distances using specialized off-road equipment before continuing on foot, carrying the tools and supplies necessary to establish and reinforce containment lines.
AERIAL OPERATIONS AND MULTI-STATE RESPONSE
Today, aerial firefighting operations are continuing, including assistance from the Massachusetts National Guard, which has been activated to provide additional water-dropping capabilities. These resources complement the tremendous work already being performed by ground crews and the aviation assets supporting this incident.
One important distinction we want the public to understand is that containment does not mean the fire is extinguished.
Containment means firefighters have established and secured control lines around the fire to prevent it from spreading beyond those boundaries. Even after 100% containment is achieved, significant work remains. Crews must continue locating and extinguishing hot spots, addressing burning vegetation and debris, and monitoring the area to ensure the fire does not reignite or escape those lines.
This is a labor-intensive process that may continue well beyond the point when the immediate threat of the fire’s spread has been controlled.
THE STRENGTH OF OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE
While the size of this incident and the resources involved are certainly noteworthy, we want to take a moment to recognize something equally important: the incredible dedication of Rensselaer County’s volunteer fire service.
Rensselaer County is exceptionally fortunate to have a robust network of volunteer fire departments staffed by men and women who consistently answer the call when their communities need them.
When additional resources were requested to support this incident, chief officers from across Rensselaer County stepped forward without hesitation, offering personnel, apparatus, specialized equipment, and whatever assistance was needed.
This morning, those offers turned into action.
Volunteer firefighters left their families, jobs, and everyday responsibilities to spend another day working in difficult and physically demanding conditions, helping communities that may not even be their own.
That willingness to serve, without regard for municipal boundaries, is one of the greatest strengths of our county’s emergency services system.
COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND COUNTY-WIDE SUPPORT
Throughout this incident, the Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety and our Emergency Management staff have maintained direct communication with Incident Command and have been integrated into the Incident Command System to support operational needs, resource coordination, and the ongoing response.
An incident of this magnitude requires much more than simply sending additional firefighters. It requires coordination, planning, communication, and a careful understanding of the resources available throughout the region.
As additional assistance was requested, county personnel worked to identify and coordinate resources from departments across Rensselaer County, deliberately distributing those requests geographically.
This approach allows us to provide meaningful assistance to the communities affected by this wildfire while ensuring that sufficient personnel and equipment remain available to respond to emergencies throughout the rest of the county.
Supporting one community should never mean leaving another without the protection it needs.
That balance is an important responsibility of county-level emergency management, and it reflects the value of the relationships, planning, and mutual aid partnerships that have been developed throughout our fire service.
A REGIONAL EFFORT BUILT ON PARTNERSHIPS
This incident is also a powerful example of what can be accomplished when local, county, state, and interstate resources work together toward a common objective.
From the firefighters working directly on the fire lines to the personnel coordinating aircraft, managing resources, supporting communications, providing rehabilitation, and maintaining operations behind the scenes, every assignment contributes to the overall success of this response.
We are especially grateful to our partners in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers, New York State Police Aviation, the Massachusetts National Guard, and the many fire departments and supporting agencies that have contributed to this effort.
These partnerships are not simply names on a mutual aid plan. They are relationships built through years of training, cooperation, and a shared commitment to public safety. When a major emergency occurs, those relationships make all the difference.
THANK YOU TO THOSE ANSWERING THE CALL
To every firefighter, chief officer, emergency management professional, dispatcher, aviation crew member, and support person involved in this incident: Thank you.
Thank you for the long hours, the difficult work, the sacrifices made by you and your families, and your willingness to step forward when help is needed.
We also recognize the departments and personnel who remain in their home communities, maintaining normal emergency response capabilities while their fellow firefighters assist with this incident. Their contributions are equally important.
And to the families, employers, and community members who support our volunteers and make their service possible, we extend our sincere appreciation.
Rensselaer County is proud of its emergency services personnel, proud of its volunteer fire departments, and proud of the tremendous spirit of cooperation that continues to be demonstrated throughout this incident.
The accompanying photographs provide just a glimpse of the work being done in the field. Behind every photograph are countless hours of preparation, training, coordination, and commitment to protecting the communities we serve.
As operations continue, we ask the public to avoid the affected area, give emergency personnel the space they need to work safely, and remain mindful of the ongoing fire danger associated with our current dry conditions.
We will continue supporting Incident Command and our responding agencies for as long as necessary.
To everyone involved: Stay safe, look out for one another, and thank you for everything you do.
Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety
