RINGWOOD, NJ — Firefighters are making slow progress in their battle against a wildfire on the New Jersey-New York border.
The Jennings Creek Firethat has hit Passaic and Orange counties is now 50% contained, down from 20% on Tuesday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Wednesday evening.
Officials say thousands of acres have burned and local road closures remain.
At a news conference in Ringwood on Wednesday morning, fire officials said the light winds are working to the advantage of firefighters, who have been tirelessly battling the blaze, which has stretched from West Milford, New Jersey, to Greenwood Lake, New York, for nearly two decades. six days.
Firefighters have been dealing with rugged conditions in the area, which is hilly and largely wilderness. They managed to keep the flames away from 10 structures — mostly lakeside vacation homes — and a Native American historic site.
The situation is becoming dangerous on the New York side
The New York State Park Police said on Facebook: “The Jennings Creek wildfire remains primarily contained within Sterling Forest State Park and is contained by fire lines,” adding that state police and Army National Guard helicopters are dropping more than 175 buckets dropped water. on fire on Tuesday. Four helicopters are expected to return to the fire on Wednesday.
Visiting the scene on Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced a ban on outdoor fire burning in New York.
“The threats are too great and we cannot focus our resources on smaller fires. We need everyone, all hands on deck for the big fires we have here,” Hochul said.
Officials say firefighters on the Passaic County side are battling the blaze in steep and dangerous conditions as they try to prevent the flames from spreading to 100 homes a quarter mile away in Orange County, which has declared a state of emergency and is only allowing residents inside.
The Greenwood Lake Union School District is closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
Residents said they are grateful for the massive operation, which included firefighters bringing water from a lake to battle the fire on the ground and helicopters dousing the flames from the sky.
“It’s not just the firefighters, it’s everyone, the police. They’re just fantastic,” said Jan, a Greenwood Lake resident.
Jan said she is evacuating voluntarily because she has no power. As firefighters fight fire with fire using burnouts near her home, she said she is confident they will succeed, but leaving is difficult.
“I never felt like I could leave my house and it might not be there when I get back,” Jan said.
“When everything initially started, I think it was more alarming to me because it seemed like the flames were coming into the community,” said Julie Dussard of Orange County. “There are a lot of residents who have opened their homes across the lake. Shelters have opened. Everyone is really opening their arms and hearts and trying to help the volunteers as well.”
No mandatory evacuations have been declared, but New York officials say if they do, it will take three hours to get residents out.
“If it gets to the point where we have to pull the trigger and evacuate, we want to try to get those people out of their homes first because once we bring in the fire department, it’s going to cause traffic issues,” Bryan said. Gallagher, a ranger for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
New Jersey is now under a drought warning
Governor Phil Murphy announced this in Watchung he elevates New Jersey’s drought warning to a warning. Officials say drought conditions have contributed to the unusual number of wildfires in the state. There has been no measurable rain for some time.
“New Jersey is experiencing unprecedented weather events due to climate change, which requires us to take these precautions now,” Murphy said. “It can be challenging to adapt our daily habits, but it is imperative that we all work together, follow guidelines to conserve water and exercise the utmost caution outdoors to reduce the risk of wildfires as dry conditions persist statewide.”
“We need several months of average precipitation to recover from these conditions,” said Department of Environment Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.
The drought warning does not impose any restrictions on residents, but gives the DEP, which is also responsible for the forest fire service, the ability to strictly manage the water supply.
The state said residents are strongly encouraged to follow the following tips to reduce water use:
- Allow lawns to remain dormant for a season
- Winterize and close irrigation systems as soon as possible
- Use a watering can only to water flowers and shrubs or to leave them dormant for a season
- Use a broom to sweep the sidewalk, instead of a garden hose
- Use a commercial car wash that recycles water
- Repair leaking taps and pipes. Consider replacing your toilet with a low-flow version
- Upgrade your showerhead to low-flow versions
- Upgrade your faucets or install faucet aerators
