In April of 2016, Cragsmoor Fire Company was alerted by Ulster County 911 that crews working a small ground fire on the Sullivan County end of the ridge to a column of smoke rising above the ridge in the Sam's Point Dwarf Pine Barren Preserve. Crews responded to find a fire was located near Verkeederkill Falls that was rapidly spreading through the dense Rhododendron and Dwarf Pitch Pines. The last major fire in that area was in 1947 before the Company was formed. So, as you can imagine, the fuel load was immense and volatile. Command was quick to call for assistance from surrounding fire departments. The fire was visible throughout the Hudson Valley. Ulster County Fire Coordinators and Office of Emergency Management contacted New York State Fire for Assistance and enacted the New York State Mutual Aid Plan with Crews responding from all over the lower end of New York State. Aviation support was requested and provided by the New York State Police and Army National Guard. Helicopters equipped with drop buckets were filling up at any local body of water they could access. The fire suppression efforts went on for days with volunteers from many different counties. The community rallied behind the personnel attempting to suppress the fire from spreading. Donations poured in and were greatly appreciated! In total, approximately 2,028 acres of land were scorched by the wildfire.