Gusty Winds Stoke 5,000-Acre Wildfire at New York-New Jersey Border
The New York Times
Known as the Jennings Creek fire, it started Friday and quickly spread. The rugged terrain has made it more difficult for emergency workers to respond.
Howling winds on Tuesday threatened to hasten the spread of the 5,000-acre Jennings Creek fire that was burning on the border between New York and New Jersey, state officials and weather experts said.
Gusts of up to 35 miles per hour and the drought that has gripped much of the Northeast could cause the blaze to grow rapidly and drive smoke south, affecting air quality in New York City, officials said. It started last Friday in Orange County, New York, and then quickly crossed over state lines into New Jersey’s Passaic County.
Some areas are still too rugged for emergency vehicles to access; the fire was 10 percent contained in New York and 10 percent contained in New Jersey as of Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
So far, there have been no evacuation orders or any damage to structures, according to New York and New Jersey officials, who are still investigating its cause. The fire, which caused the death of an employee for the New York State parks system, is burning mostly in a state park near the Appalachian Trail and along the border.
On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced a statewide burn ban, which prohibits outdoor fires and discourages grill use through Nov. 30. Last week, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City banned grilling in public parks after a fire burned two acres in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The cause is still under investigation.
On Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a red flag alert for the southern parts of New York and Connecticut, as well as in northeastern New Jersey. The alert, which cautioned that humidity levels were dropping and winds were picking up, warned people to be careful with possible fire-starters like cigarettes and grills.
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The fire, the latest of several in the region over the weekend, had caused one death and was not contained as of Sunday afternoon, officials said.
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