Has The Eternal Flame Been Extinguished At Chestnut Ridge State Park?

They call it the "Eternal Flame" at Chestnut Ridge State Park, but is it really eternal?  Has it been extinguished?

What is the Eternal Flame?

The Eternal Flame is a natural phenomenon that people flock to from all over.  It's a flame that exists thanks to a natural gas leak that comes out of the ground.  The thing that makes this one so unique is that it sits in a cove behind a waterfall in Orchard Park, New York.  It's about a mile and a half hike to get back to it in Chestnut Ridge Park.

Over the last couple of years, they've upgraded the path and signage to make it easier to find.

What happens, though, if you get to the Eternal Flame and there isn't actually a flame in the cove?

Does the Eternal Flame ever go out?

One of the long-lasting beliefs of the Eternal Flame is that it was lit by Native Americans thousands of years ago and has been burning ever since.  You would think that the Eternal Flame could never go out. It's eternal, after all.  But despite the name, it has been known to go out.  Anything from high winds, water being pushed back into the flame, or human intervention can cause the flame to go out.

Should you relight the Eternal Flame if it is out when you get there?

What should you do if you hike back to the Eternal Flame and it isn't lit?  According to multiple pages such as this one, you can relight the Eternal Flame by sticking a flame into the grotto on the left side.  While it won't explode, you could get a big poof of flame due to natural gas building up in the grotto.