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Vol. 3 · No. 306 Every side. Side by side. Monday, November 2, 2026
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DEC closes Rensselaer County trails after new wildfire near Mass. line

New York's DEC said Monday it closed trails and state forests in Rensselaer County after a wildfire near the Massachusetts border, WAMC reported.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said Monday it closed several trails and state forests in Rensselaer County because of an active wildfire near the Massachusetts border1,2.

The agency said the Taconic Crest Trail, Mattison Hollow Trail, Berlin State Forest and Taconic Ridge State Forest are closed from Mattison Hollow to Berlin Mountain until further notice, and that hikers, campers and other visitors should stay out of those areas while crews respond1.

WAMC reported that the fire is in eastern Rensselaer County and comes about a week after a wildfire burned about 250 acres in Rensselaer County and western Massachusetts2.

A DEC spokesperson told WAMC the new fire was not something for the public to worry about and that the agency was trying to keep people off the trail2.

WAMC said all of New York was under a moderate wildfire risk Monday, after the DEC had urged caution with campfires and other outdoor fire during dry weather2.

The size, cause and containment status of the new fire were not given in the DEC closure notice, and it was not clear how long the closures would last1,2.

Sources

  1. New York State Department of Environmental ConservationWildfire closure of Taconic Crest and related trails
  2. WAMCNew wildfire erupts in Rensselaer County near New York-Massachusetts border

Read the original at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ↗

How it’s being reported

2 sources

First reported by New York State Department of Environmental ConservationNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Where they agree

  • DEC closed named trails and forests in Rensselaer County because of a wildfire.
  • The closures cover Taconic Crest Trail, Mattison Hollow Trail, Berlin State Forest and Taconic Ridge State Forest.

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

New York State Department of Environmental ConservationNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Wildfire closure of Taconic Crest and related trails

Gives this outlet’s account of the story.

The DEC said Taconic Crest Trail, Mattison Hollow Trail, Berlin State Forest and Taconic Ridge State Forest in Rensselaer County are closed from Mattison Hollow to Berlin Mountain until further…

Leaves out Acreage, cause, and whether homes are at risk

Gives this outlet’s account of the story.

What it reports

  • DEC cited an active wildfire and ongoing emergency response and said hikers, campers and visitors must avoid those areas.

Leaves out Acreage, cause, and whether homes are at risk

Read the original at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Read the full article at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
WAMCWAMC

New wildfire erupts in Rensselaer County near New York-Massachusetts border

A second wildfire after last week's 250-acre blaze, and DEC comments on public risk

WAMC reported a new wildfire in eastern Rensselaer County near the Massachusetts line, about a week after a roughly 250-acre fire in the same region, and that a DEC spokesperson described the new…

Leaves out Exact acreage of the new fire

A second wildfire after last week's 250-acre blaze, and DEC comments on public risk

What it reports

  • A DEC spokesperson told WAMC the fire was nothing to worry about and that the agency was trying to keep people off the trail.
  • WAMC said all of New York was under a moderate wildfire risk Monday.

Leaves out Exact acreage of the new fire

Read the original at WAMC Read the full article at WAMC