Cherry Plain

Fire fully contained along Taconic ridge as crews mop up

The fire burned through steep, rugged woodland in Berlin State Forest along the Taconic ridge near the Massachusetts border. Ground operations and interstate aerial water drops stopped forward progress, bringing the fire to full containment. No homes or communities are threatened as responders patrol containment lines and extinguish interior heat.

Evacuations and Closures

• No evacuation orders or warnings are in effect as of October 28.
• The Taconic Crest Trail south of State Highway 2 is closed, and hikers are instructed to avoid affected portions of Berlin State Forest (October 28).

Impact

No homes, outbuildings, or critical infrastructure were damaged, and authorities confirmed no injuries on October 28. Smoke generated minor air quality impacts in surrounding valley communities, with visible haze and a nighttime ridge glow reported along Route 43 and northern Cheshire.

Conditions and Outlook

Southerly breezes will turn southwesterly before shifting gusty from the west-northwest, accompanied by rising humidity and chances of light rain or drizzle through late week. Fire activity is expected to remain minimal as state forest rangers and local fire crews continue mop-up operations across the burn area.

Cause and Context

The cause remains under investigation as of October 28. Burning through dry hardwood leaf litter, the fire crossed into Massachusetts and drew a coordinated multi-state response involving ground and aviation units from New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

Official updates current through October 28, 2026.