MANLIUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The wildfire raging on the New York-New Jersey border isn’t something that Manlius Fire Department Deputy Chief Greg Vandyke has seen in his career.
“It’s not something we deal with on a regular basis. It’s not our bread and butter,” said Vandyke. “For us, we might do a small grass fire or field fire but the size they are dealing with downstate is not what we are used to dealing with up here.”
But Manlius Fire is prepared, knowing that brush fires can pop anywhere. In 2016, 100 acres burned in Kirkville, and the department was one of 40 agencies to help put it out.
“The potential is there for that stuff to happen. We’ve talked about it several times,” said VanDyke. “It’s been pretty dry. It’s been pretty warm for what we are used to this time of the year. The weather plays a huge part in it.”
And Manlius Fire says it has the equipment needed. They have a pump truck called mini-one. The vehicle has a water pump on the back and can go off-road making extinguishing brush easier.