Hikers Alert Firefighters To Ramapo Reservation Blaze

Mahwah firefighters cut down a 30-foot by 30-foot brush fire in the middle of the Ramapo Reservation Sunday evening, Assistant Fire Chief Brad Stio said. The fire department was alerted to the blaze by a few hikers, he said.

The hikers, “actually directed us to exactly where the fire was,” Stio said. “They were very helpful.”

Cars and fire trucks could not access the area of the reservation where the fire broke out, about a quarter of a mile from the Upper Lake area, Stio said. “We had to hike to the fire with all of our equipment to put it out,” he said.

According to Stio, firefighters fought the blaze, which began at about 6 p.m., for about an hour and a half before it was fully put out. Fire Companies 2, 4 and 5 and Mahwah Police and Mahwah Ambulance responded.

According to Mahwah Police Chief Jim Batelli, a Mahwah Police officer fell while responding to the fire, and was injured on the scene. The officer was transported to the hospital and received stitches in his arm, Batelli said.

--

Follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your email inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.