Cranberry Lake Fire Department’s brush crew loads equipment into their ATV and rescue sleigh, preparing to attack a fire line. From left, Firefighter Bobby Whitmore, Chief Mike Dolan and Captain Norm Santimaw. Photo by CLFD Lt. Nick Hunter.

CRANBERRY LAKE -- Unusually dry conditions and warm weather have resulted in a fire danger that is higher than usual for this time of year, according to Cranberry Lake Fire Chief Michael Dolan. As a result, fire departments in the North Country have been responding to an increased number of grass and wildfires this year. Cranberry Lake has mobilized for five such incidents since the snow melted.

“I could not imagine working this fire in turnout gear,” Lt. Nick Hunter said while fighting a wildfire near Tupper Lake on May 4.

“We had recently taken delivery of four new sets of wildfire gear, and placed them into service more quickly than we’d planned,” Dolan said. “I am delighted it was available to our firefighters when needed. Fighting wildfires in structural firefighting gear, or ‘turnouts,’ is exhausting and dangerous.”

Through grants from the Northern New York Community Foundation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Clifton-Fine Lions Club, and the Cranberry Lake Fire Department Auxiliary, the department purchased equipment to fully outfit four firefighters.

“It is a tremendous benefit to our department, and illustrates the need to continue to work toward outfitting all of our firefighters similarly,” Dolan said. “The fire danger remains at ‘high.’ If you see even a small fire, or just smoke, call 911. A small fire can become a very big fire extraordinarily quickly, and it takes time to mobilize personnel and equipment to fight it.”