Jade Nash

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Nov 17, 2024, 5:54 PM

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Updated

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Orange County officials announced that they are extending their State of Emergency as crews continued to fight the fire in Sterling Forest.

Maj. Bob Rogers, of the New York State Forest Rangers, said they conducted another major burnout operation in the northwestern corner of the fire.

"The smoke you're seeing behind us is actually being put down...it's created by firefighters. This is us on the offensive at this point," said Rogers.

MORE: Orange County extends state of emergency; Greenwood Lake schools closed Monday

Rogers said the fire is still at 88% containment thanks to help from many different resources, including the Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Police.

A Blackhawk helicopter came from Long Island to fight the fire on Sunday.

"We did about two drops, and then they told us to come here and wait," said J. Wills, a servicemember.

News 12 crews watched as the aircrafts got water to dump on the fire from Greenwood Lake.

The collection took place not too far away from the Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park where Chelsea Conklin and her kids were hanging out. At the park, Conklin revealed that her husband is one of the brave firefighters battling the blaze.

"It's been very stressful. It's hard. [I've] been trying to keep myself busy with the kids, so we went out and put up signs with the kids around town," Conklin said.

Greenwood Lake Union Free School District officials announced that schools will be closed on Monday as the fire continues to burn.

"On Monday morning, we will have a decision for Tuesday and will be based on the overnight progress of the fire and the firefighting efforts," Hadden said.

Hadden added that the Greenwood Lake Middle School building will continue to stay open as a shelter through Monday morning.

Related stories:

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Exclusive: News 12 joins rescuers on Greenwood Lake fire line for close-up look at wildfire attack