The fire, which began Thursday, is located about five miles east of Cragsmoor and on the east side of Route 44/55. Officials have dubbed it the Overlook fire.

After more than 3,000 acres of the Minnewaska State Park [1] have been engulfed by a forest fire requiring more than 25 local fire departments, state agencies and two helicopters to control all are left wondering what exactly caused the blaze and how it could have been prevented.

According to the Poughkeepsie Journal News [2], the answer may be to coordinate small controlled burns throughout the park in order to stop the buildup of flammable material which could lead to a large-scale fire. The Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership [3] who supervised burns in the past, claims that such controlled fires could even restore nutrients to the soil.

While the majority of the fire has been contained, it has served as a reminder that the state needs a long-term plan for the park. After spending $17 million to keep a large area of the park from being developed into high-priced cabins, the state now needs to set out a clear vision of what the future of the park will look like.