On August 23rd at approximately 11:39am the SLVFD received a report of a smoke condition West of the Petrova School.

The smoke condition was reported to the SLVFD by Vernon James who is a past firefighter and the school districts Director of Facilities. Petrova school staff had noticed the smoke condition while checking the roof area for a potential lightening strike.

SLVFD members responded to Petrova school to investigate and see where and what they were looking at. Firefighters identified an area of interest and began a search for the source of the smoke condition and quickly located the smoke condition along the west shore of Lower Saranac Lake on a knoll between the Knollwood and Guggenheim camps.

SLVFD members borrowed a pontoon boat from Saranac Lake Marina to further investigate. Upon arrival at the fire they located a large dead 100 foot pine tree about 350 feet up on a rockledge knoll on fire from a nearby lightening strike. There was also a small ground fire as well.

SLVFD responded with two boats and manpower to the scene. It was deemed extremely unsafe to cut the tree so the members decided to let the tree finish burning all the way through to bring it down to the ground. Once the large tree was on the ground firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. "Watch the video below to the end to see the huge tree fall in flames"

SLVFD received assistance from NYSDEC Rangers. We would like to extend a big thank you to Saranac Lake Marina for the use of their boat to locate the fire.