In an act of interstate cooperation, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has dispatched a team of wildland firefighters to assist with the ongoing wildfire crises in Colorado. A total of 11 experts from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, including Forest Rangers and Lands and Forests staff, have embarked on a two-week mission to provide much-needed support in combatting the fierce blazes, as was reported in an announcement made by the Governor's Office.
"New Yorkers are always ready to volunteer when other states need our help," Hochul stated, reinforcing a spirit of solidarity in times of environmental emergencies. The team, composed of six Forest Rangers and four Lands and Forest staff members, has been deployed to the Pagosa Ranger District on the San Juan National Forest in Pagosa Springs. They will focus on initial attacks amidst a period of heightened fire danger, with an additional ranger sent to the yet uncontained South Rim Fire in Gunnison National Park, which has already engulfed over 3,600 acres, as per the Governor's Office.
According to the Governor's Office statement, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton expressed confidence in the highly trained personnel, noting, "DEC firefighters are among the most highly trained wildland firefighters in the country." She also highlighted their dual expertise in fire suppression and incident command leadership, which is expected to contribute significantly to these containment efforts in Colorado.
Furthermore, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, echoed concerns about the health impacts of wildfire smoke. "Wildfire smoke is particularly concerning for those most vulnerable to negative health impacts from unhealthy air quality," McDonald told the press, drawing attention to the risks for individuals with heart and lung conditions, the elderly, the very young, and pregnant people. The interstate mutual aid not only aids the immediate firefighting efforts but also serves as an invaluable learning experience for the New York crew, honing skills that will benefit their home state in the future, the Governor's Office reported.
The tradition of New York aiding other states in firefighting efforts dates back to 1979. Since then, an average of one or two crews are dispatched annually, a testament to the state's commitment to cooperative emergency response. Expenses for the crew's mission are covered by the U.S. Forest Service or are reimbursed as per mutual aid agreements between states and federal land agencies. The recent deployment is especially timely given the Air Quality Health Advisories issued in New York due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, emphasizing the interconnected impact of such environmental disasters.
