Firefighters faced a high risk of flames spreading as they fought a wildfire near the New York/New Jersey border. The fire had broken a containment barrier and forced more than 160 houses to be evacuated on Saturday night.
Jesse Dwyer said that a supervisor from Warwick, New York posted on Facebook Sunday, “The voluntary evacuation allowed firefighters to continue their efforts against the Jennings Creek Wildfire without interruption overnight.”
Dwyer stated, “Efforts by local and regional firemen to protect structures overnight were successful, and at this time no structures are in danger.”
Residents were allowed to return to their homes. Warwick officials announced in the early evening that Orange County’s state of emergency had been extended. The officials asked people in the area of evacuation to remain in their homes so that firefighters could continue working.
Officials say the fire, which started on Nov. 8, has consumed more than 5,000 hectares in both states. It is 90% contained. The fire jumped over the containment line, but it took an emergency response to get the fire past the line. This included asking Warwick residents who were voluntarily leaving their homes to leave and opening a middle school shelter.
The New York State Park Police posted on Facebook Sunday that crews were dousing the fire with water from helicopters of the New York Air National Guard and had the blaze “boxed in by fire lines”. It had previously stated that the fire was only four to five acres.
The posting stated, “The small section of the fire which breached the containment line, did not reach the contingency line.”
The weather is not cooperating
The weather conditions are making it difficult to put out the fire. Rain that could help is not expected until Thursday.
The National Weather Service released a statement on Sunday, warning of the increased risk of wildfires spreading to the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Essex Hudson, Passaic, and Union.
The worst of a drought that extends from Virginia to Massachusetts has affected New Jersey and the southeast part of New York State. This is increasing fire danger. Last week, New York Governor. Kathy Hochul, due to the dry conditions in the state, banned outdoor burning throughout the remainder of November.
New York Faces Brush Fires
Recent brush fires that occurred in Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park, and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, have brought attention to the significant increase of these incidents in New York City this year. The fire department reported it responded to 229 in just two weeks between Oct. 29 and Nov. 11, a record number.
The Department Commissioner Robert Tucker has responded by forming a task force to combat brush fires. This group will consist of “fire inspectors, fire marshals, and tactical drones in response to the historic increase of brush fires throughout the five boroughs”, the FDNY announced on social media.
Department officials said they are also promoting safety in the city by reducing brush fires. Last week, two of them occurred near Amtrak track in the Bronx. This forced the suspension of popular train service between Penn Station and Boston for over 24 hours.
