Flooding does little to prevent Somers brush fire

A brush fire in Somers prompted a major response Monday, and officials say residents can expect more of the same, despite recent heavy rains.
Fire departments from Westchester County, Putnam County and even Connecticut responded to the heavily wooded scene off Orchard Hill Road. They arrived with tanker trucks filled with water to fight the blaze, which spread across about 3 acres.
Mail carrier Donna Savino witnessed the fire, which broke out about 1:30 p.m.
"I didn't know where the smoke was, so I delivered the mail and I went up the driveway and I saw about 30 feet from the house that the backyard was on fire," Savino said.
Somers Fire Department Chief Robert Totten says even though the area recently endured flooding due to a nor'easter, dead leaves and vegetation from last year, along with whipping winds, fueled the flames. Totten says much of the Hudson Valley is under a red flag fire warning.
No houses were damaged in the blaze and no one was reported injured.