Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star low humidity, high temperatures and dried vegetation created ideal conditions for a brush fire that burned four acres in a wooded area on Overlook Road in Hillsdale on Mon., Apr. 18. Columbia County Battalion Five, which includes 11 fire companies, responded and fought the blaze for more than five hours Monday afternoon. No one was hurt. Austerlitz Fire District Chief Dave Page said the fire came within 200 feet of two homes. A outdoor fire ban is in effect statewide March 14 to May 16 because of the critical fire weather conditions. The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Red Flag Warning for low relative humidity and gusty winds from noon until 6 p.m., today (Tue., Apr. 19).