UPDATE 3/10/2020: Route 9D is open; the fire has been contained but may still be burning.

The text came in from a train commuter at 8:29 pm: “The fires by Cold Spring were crazy today. There were at least 9 cars totally burned up.” This blogger had just left the City Council Workshop meeting in order to switch gears into another work assignment, and then drove to a high point in Beacon in order to see the orange glow at Breakneck still blazing at 9:30 pm. The Highlands Current reported that Route 9D had closed between Beacon and Cold Spring.

The Fishkill Police Department confirmed that the cars were destroyed, as first reported by WRRV and the department’s own Facebook page. We do know some information from other reports coming online this evening: The Dutchess Junction Fire Department was dispatched to a brush fire at 8 Hartsook Lane, according to an article at Mid Hudson News. The Rombout and Glenham Fire Departments were called to assist in fighting that fire. Fire departments from Eastern Orange County were called out to help battle the Breakneck Ridge brush fire, according to the article. The Fishkill Police Department was one of several agencies to respond and make updates. The Fishkill Police department reported that all hikers came down safely from the mountain.

The City of Beacon’s Fire Department was not called to assist in these fires, as they were fighting two other small fires near the train tracks in Beacon at the same time, according to Beacon’s Fire Chief, Gary Van Voorhis. We may have more information about those fires on Tuesday, so refresh this article if you’re looking for updates.

According to the Mid Hudson News article, several other brush fires have ignited during the day. This could be for a range of reasons, but know this: A burn ban is going into effect for the State of New York, which prohibits some open burning of trash, painted wood, leaves, and other items. Read all about it here.