Large Brush Fire Damages Woods in Veterans Park

A large brush fire burned for about 45 minutes early Tuesday morning in Veterans Park, creating heavy smoke and high flames in a wooded area toward the back of the property.

The fire was located about 500 feet into the woods, but flames could be seen in the tree line from a clearing outside the woods when authorities first arrived at the scene. The fire was reported at 5:45 a.m. but probably burned for at least an hour before anyone noticed, according to Harrison Fire Chief Dino Del Signore.

"There was heavy smoke and fire upon arrival," said Del Signore. "It was fairly big."

It took authorities about 45 minutes to control the fire, but it was still smoldering at 8:30 Friday morning and Del Signore said he expected it to take at least a few more hours to completely put out the fire. Smoke was still visible in the woods as firefighters overturned the ground Friday morning.

"There's so much leaves and debris that it's hard to get it under control," he said. "There is two or three feet burning underground."

Damage was limited to the trail area behind the park. Several downed trees in the area were reduced to charcoal and three or four spots in the woods were blackened as a result of the fire.

There are no homes in the area and there was no structural damage to any buildings or injuries as a result of the blaze.

The Village of Mamaroneck Fire Department assisted at the scene, the Port Chester Fire Department was on call and the Valhalla Fire Department provided a vehicle to bring water into the woods.

The cause of the fire has not been made official at this time, but Del Signore said it was probably a result of the dry weather conditions.

"When the weather is right for it, this happens," he said.

There were still several hot-spots burning on Friday morning that Del Signore said firefighters were dumping water on. But with no rain in the forecast for at least a few days, Del Signore said that fires in the area will continue to be a concern.

"It's just so dry," he said. "Until we get some rain you never know."