WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — New York officials Tuesday morning reported significant progress overnight in battling a wildfire on the Massachusetts state line, with hopes of total containment as early as tonight.

 

"Containment right now is about 70 percent contained," N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation Lt. Eric Stratton said during a news conference telecast by Springfield, Mass., television station WWLP. "We do anticipate by the end of the day shift today … we should be between 90 and 100 percent contained if all goes according to plan."

 

Stratton and Rensselaer County (N.Y.) Director of Public Safety Jay Wilson met with the media and fielded questions about the fire, which currently affects 251 acres and has spread over the state line into Williamstown.

 

"We had a night crew working all night long, and they were able to do a lot of good work," Stratton said. "The [relative humidities] recovered nicely, so that decreased fire behavior. 

 

"We reinforced some [fire] line, put in a new line. We are now at 251 acres."

 

Stratton explained that the strategy for battling the fire involves establishing a control line around the blaze and setting fire between the control line and the wildfire to consume fuel the wildfire would need to spread.

 

Stratton said that as of mid-morning Tuesday, 119 fire personnel from New York and Massachusetts were involved with the effort to extinguish the blaze.