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A massive wildfire, known as the Jennings Creek wildfire, continues to burn across the border of New York and New Jersey, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to issue a statewide burn ban until the end of November. The fire, which started in Sterling Forest, has already consumed about 5,000 acres across the two states, making it the largest wildfire to affect New York since 2008.
The wildfire is currently 30 percent contained, with firefighters from multiple agencies and states working tirelessly to control the blaze. The fire has been fueled by extremely dry conditions, with Governor Hochul noting that this has been one of the driest Octobers on record. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for several regions in New York, indicating a high risk of wildfire due to the current weather conditions.
The Jennings Creek wildfire has tragically claimed the life of a New York State Parks employee, 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, who was assisting in the firefighting efforts. Governor Hochul expressed her condolences to Vasquez's family during a press conference, highlighting the dangerous work undertaken by those battling the fires.
Despite the challenging conditions, firefighters have been able to prevent the fire from threatening any structures on the New York side of the fire. However, at least 25 structures in New Jersey, including eight historic structures in New Jersey's Long Pond Ironworks State Park, remain at risk.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. As firefighters continue to battle the blaze, residents living near the fire have complied with voluntary evacuations. The statewide burn ban issued by Governor Hochul is in effect until November 30th due to the increased fire risk as the state continues to experience drought conditions.