NJFFSA16
09-10-2002, 01:57 AM
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) - Army firefighters continued fighting
persistent smoldering brush fires in an artillery range at Fort
Drum on Monday as the post's garrison commander toured several
bordering communities plagued by drifting smoke from the blazes.
"It's better today. The wind has shifted and I can see blue
sky," said Nora Geer, the village clerk in Antwerp, which sits on
the northwestern fringe of the sprawling northern New York Army
post.
"Over the weekend, though, you could be inside with your
windows closed and you could still smell the smoke," she said.
While the shifting wind gave Antwerp a reprieve, it did not help
conditions in Gouverneur, about 20 miles north of Antwerp, where
officials said the smoke was so heavy Monday that it was causing
visibility problems.
"It has grown progressively worse. It's especially bad for
seniors and for young children with asthma or other respiratory
problems," said Gouverneur Mayor Al Netto.
Residents as far north as Massena - about 60 miles from Fort
Drum - reported the smoke caused sore throats and burning eyes. The
state Health Department on Tuesday cautioned residents downwind
that exposure to the fine particles in the haze can aggravate both
respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and advised limiting
strenuous outdoor activity.
The post has been plagued by the brush fires since mid-August
but the smoke began thickening last week. The fires are burning in
a remote 6-by-10-mile area used as the post's artillery range.
The danger of unexploded shells is preventing firefighters from
getting into the impact area on the ground, said Maj. Bryan
Hilferty, public affairs officer for the 10th Mountain Division.
Since Friday, military crews have been dumping 600-gallon
buckets of water on the fires from a helicopter.
"It's been difficult to pinpoint exactly where the fires are
burning," post spokesman, Ed Stouffer, said Monday. "These are
not big, raging conflagrations. These are smoldering, low-intensity
fires burning the vegetation."
There are no visible flames so the crews are dumping water where
they see smoke - but smoke drifts so the water is not necessarily
getting to the fires, he said. Stouffer said the water drops seem
to be adding to the amount of smoke.
There is no danger of the fire spreading off the post, Hilferty
said. Stouffer added that ground crews are patrolling the perimeter
of the artillery range, dousing fires wherever they find them.
The smoke has not been a problem within Fort Drum because the
wind has been blowing north over an unpopulated area of the post.
The area is in the middle of Fort Drum and has been used as a
target site for live artillery practice since the 1940s. This is
the first time, however, a fire has caused enough smoke to be an
irritant to neighboring communities, Hilferty said. The dry summer
weather has contributed to the problem, he said.
"We are concerned," Hilferty said. "Our neighbors have
concerns and we want to open up the lines of communication. We're
trying to be good neighbors."
On Monday, Col. Emory Helton, the garrison commander, traveled
to Antwerp, Gouverneur and other neighboring communities to get a
firsthand view of the problem and consult with local government
officials, Stouffer said.
"We pleaded with them to do more, to attack this with an
all-out effort and get it over with," said Netto, who met with
Helton Monday. "They said it seems to be under control. They're
hoping for rain but that can't be the answer."
Helton said the meetings with the local officials were
"pleasant" though there were several questions about the steps
being taken to control the fires.
"We assured them we'd continue to monitor the fires," Helton
said. "We're hoping worst of smoke is over with, though with
underground fires it can be somewhat difficult to predict."
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.
persistent smoldering brush fires in an artillery range at Fort
Drum on Monday as the post's garrison commander toured several
bordering communities plagued by drifting smoke from the blazes.
"It's better today. The wind has shifted and I can see blue
sky," said Nora Geer, the village clerk in Antwerp, which sits on
the northwestern fringe of the sprawling northern New York Army
post.
"Over the weekend, though, you could be inside with your
windows closed and you could still smell the smoke," she said.
While the shifting wind gave Antwerp a reprieve, it did not help
conditions in Gouverneur, about 20 miles north of Antwerp, where
officials said the smoke was so heavy Monday that it was causing
visibility problems.
"It has grown progressively worse. It's especially bad for
seniors and for young children with asthma or other respiratory
problems," said Gouverneur Mayor Al Netto.
Residents as far north as Massena - about 60 miles from Fort
Drum - reported the smoke caused sore throats and burning eyes. The
state Health Department on Tuesday cautioned residents downwind
that exposure to the fine particles in the haze can aggravate both
respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and advised limiting
strenuous outdoor activity.
The post has been plagued by the brush fires since mid-August
but the smoke began thickening last week. The fires are burning in
a remote 6-by-10-mile area used as the post's artillery range.
The danger of unexploded shells is preventing firefighters from
getting into the impact area on the ground, said Maj. Bryan
Hilferty, public affairs officer for the 10th Mountain Division.
Since Friday, military crews have been dumping 600-gallon
buckets of water on the fires from a helicopter.
"It's been difficult to pinpoint exactly where the fires are
burning," post spokesman, Ed Stouffer, said Monday. "These are
not big, raging conflagrations. These are smoldering, low-intensity
fires burning the vegetation."
There are no visible flames so the crews are dumping water where
they see smoke - but smoke drifts so the water is not necessarily
getting to the fires, he said. Stouffer said the water drops seem
to be adding to the amount of smoke.
There is no danger of the fire spreading off the post, Hilferty
said. Stouffer added that ground crews are patrolling the perimeter
of the artillery range, dousing fires wherever they find them.
The smoke has not been a problem within Fort Drum because the
wind has been blowing north over an unpopulated area of the post.
The area is in the middle of Fort Drum and has been used as a
target site for live artillery practice since the 1940s. This is
the first time, however, a fire has caused enough smoke to be an
irritant to neighboring communities, Hilferty said. The dry summer
weather has contributed to the problem, he said.
"We are concerned," Hilferty said. "Our neighbors have
concerns and we want to open up the lines of communication. We're
trying to be good neighbors."
On Monday, Col. Emory Helton, the garrison commander, traveled
to Antwerp, Gouverneur and other neighboring communities to get a
firsthand view of the problem and consult with local government
officials, Stouffer said.
"We pleaded with them to do more, to attack this with an
all-out effort and get it over with," said Netto, who met with
Helton Monday. "They said it seems to be under control. They're
hoping for rain but that can't be the answer."
Helton said the meetings with the local officials were
"pleasant" though there were several questions about the steps
being taken to control the fires.
"We assured them we'd continue to monitor the fires," Helton
said. "We're hoping worst of smoke is over with, though with
underground fires it can be somewhat difficult to predict."
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.