On Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 12:22 PM, units were dispatched to Purchase College on a reported brush fire. Notification had been made by SUNY Police that smoke could be seen in the wooded area across the street from Parking Lot E2, adjacent to the tennis courts. Upon arrival, FD units confirmed approximately one acre was involved, and spreading rapidly. Several firefighters quickly got water on the fire using indian tanks (portable water packs) to slow its progress, while the remainder of personnel secured a water source and advanced attack lines. Long stretches had to be made, both from the water source and to the fire's perimeter. Due to the labor intensive operations, mutual aid was requested from West Harrison FD, who supplied an additional engine and manpower. Port Chester FD was also requested to cover any additional alarms in the Purchase Fire District during the operation. After the fire was controlled, several hours of overhaul was necessary to ensure thorough extinguishment.

This was one of three similar type fires on the SUNY campus in the last month, as FD crews had recently battled wildland fires in the areas known to the students as "Mount Purchase" and "Phase One." The string of large-scale brush fires can be attributed to unusually dry conditions, as the tri-state area continues to be under a Red Flag warning.