Bald Hill Forest Fire

Date: November 10, 1931

Location: West Danby

The fire began in West Danby and spread to over 2,000 acres of forest area, including Bald Hill. Over 200 volunteers, county workers, and state troopers battled the blaze over several days. People living nearby recall seeing the light and smoke from the fire filling the sky at night. The fire was minimally damaging, burning mostly second growth timber. Firefighters were aided by a large storm that arrived during the night, which helped extinguish most of the blaze. The theory of the fire was that on the property of Donald Van Buskirk, a “careless hunter” left a smoldering stump that ignited dry grass or leaves nearby.