NEW JERSEY — The Jennings Creek wildfire is now 90% contained since it started burning last week, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service says.
According to the latest update, more than 2,200 acres had burned in New Jersey as of 10 a.m. Friday. No structures are currently threatened.
Firefighters from New York and New Jersey have been making progress throughout the week against the fire raging near the border of Passaic and Orange counties.
Nearly 300 firefighters from multiple government agencies are battling the blaze, including some from as far away as Montana and Colorado.
Smoke will likely remain in the Tri-State area
Smoke from the wildfire will likely remain in surrounding areas until “significant rain falls,” officials said, but the First Alert Forecast does not appear to have any.
“There’s just no rain in the works. Over the next seven days, looking at all the data coming in, maybe half an inch, and that’s next Thursday, Friday,” said John Elliott of CBS News New York. “Just nothing breaks through.”
Jersey Central Power & Light said it is turning off some equipment to reduce the risk of contributing to the fire, but that this is not expected to cause power outages for customers.
Thursday, authorities disconnect the electricity safely to much of Greenwood Lake, New York, amid firefighting operations. Most residents have moved temporarily.
