GREENWOOD LAKE, NY – Crews continue to battle several wildfires today in northern New Jersey and Orange County, New York.
The Jennings Creek wildfire has been burning since Friday and is impacting parts of West Milford, New Jersey and Greenwood Lake, New York. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported the incident Saturday around 2:15 p.m.
“Our fire tower noticed it, and it was noticed in New York. Well, [Friday] In the afternoon the fire entered New York. The winds changed overnight and started pushing the winds back toward New Jersey,” said New Jersey Wildland Fire Department Chief Donnelly.
Since then, the wildfire has spread over 2,000 hectares and has not been contained, Donnelly said. He called it the largest wildfire in the state so far this year.
A New York forest ranger who responded to the wildfire was killed when a tree fell on him, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said in a video on social media. Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue says the state park employee was airlifted to a local hospital but did not survive. No further details have been released so far.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of one of our New York State Parks employees yesterday while responding to a wildfire in Orange County,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
“My prayers go out to his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers, and his courage on the front lines. New York is experiencing multiple wildfires due to the dry conditions we live in. what we are currently dealing with. Our government employees are working around the clock to protect our communities and we are keeping them close in our thoughts as they risk their lives to stop the spread of these wildfires.”
A total of ten buildings were threatened by the fire, including two homes, but no evacuations have taken place at this time, fire officials said.
East Shore Road and Beach Road are both closed, as are all trails at Long Pond Ironworks State Park and Tranquility Ridge.
Drought caused fires in New York and New Jersey
This week, fires broke out across the state the drought affecting the Tri-state area continues.
“The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded to more than 400 fires overall in the past month and approximately 40 fires between yesterday and today,” Donnelly said Saturday.
Fire officials say it will take a significant amount of rain to give firefighters some respite.
“It’s up to Mother Nature. If she brings the rain, we’ll take a break, but until we see that, I don’t see any break in sight,” Donnelly said. “We’re not talking about a rainstorm or anything. We’re talking about inches of rain, you know, a nice, slow, steady rain that can penetrate the ground. Because the ground is so hard right now that if you get a heavy rainstorm or something like that, he just runs off the ground.”
A An air quality warning has been issued for northern New Jerseyalong with New York City and the Hudson Valley, until noon Monday due to the smoke.
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Pompton Lakes fire
The Cannonball 3 wildfire near Cannonball Road in Pompton Lakes was first reported Saturday morning.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday that the fire had spread to 164 acres and was 50% contained. The agency says the flames are threatening 55 buildings, but none have been evacuated at this time.
“Everything seems to be in good shape, realistically,” Donnelly said of the Pompton Lakes fire.
Englewood Cliffs Fire
A wildfire burns along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs, which started from Thursday to Fridaywas 75% under control after spreading over 39 hectares, the fire department said Saturday evening.
No structures are threatened at this time and the fire department said there will be no additional updates on this fire unless there is significant development.
The fire brigade has not yet determined the cause of these three fires.
Wildfires in New Jersey
The persistently dry, windy conditions have helped fuel a number of wildfires in New Jersey in recent days, including a blaze in Jackson Township that started Wednesday.
Fire officials said the wildfires eventually spread over 350 acres, but crews were able to achieve a containment of 90% on Friday evening.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced Saturday that the cause of the fire was determined to be magnesium shards from a shotgun that ignited flammable substances on the edge of a shooting range. A Brick Township man has been arrested and charged with arson and firearms violations in connection with the Jackson Township wildfire.
Alecia Reid and Zinnia Maldonado contributed to this report.
