At 12:59pm the Putnam Valley Fire department was requested to respond to the Taconic State Parkway Northbound in the area of mile marker 26.7 for a reported vehicle fire. The first arriving engine (24-2-1) blocked both lanes and confirmed a fully involved vehicle fire as well as fire racing up the side of the mountain. Firefighters had to quickly decide which direction to head, for the vehicle or for the woods where the fire was quickly escaping. They decided to race up the mountain and contain the fire on the mountain. They then doused the vehicle with water only to find out that the gas tank began to leak. The burning gas started to flow down the parkway right for civilian's vehicles. Firefighters quickly grabbed a dry chemical extinguisher to control the burning stream of gas.
Chief Keeler requested a tanker (24-4-2) to respond to the scene for additional water.
