New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on the 12th that due to increased fire risks caused by dry conditions, a statewide burning ban will be in effect from November 13th to the 30th to combat the wildfire that broke out along Jennings Creek, at the border between New York and New Jersey last Friday. The fire has rapidly spread and is expected to consume 5,000 acres of woodland.
Hochul emphasized the need for firefighting resources to be concentrated on combating large fires, urging residents not to light fires, especially campfires, and to remain highly vigilant about outdoor grilling conditions.
The ban announced by the Governor prohibits all forms of outdoor burning, including open burning for clearing brush and garbage, uncovered campfires, and open flames for cooking purposes. However, controlled campfires and small cooking fires in backyard fire pits, with a height not exceeding three feet and dimensions not exceeding four feet in length, width, or diameter, are permitted.
In response to the wildfires along Jennings Creek, Orange County in New York and Passaic County in New Jersey have deployed 33 teams of 5 firefighters each, five fire trucks, four water tanker trucks, six helicopters, and 230 firefighters to combat the blaze.
According to a report by Mid Hudson News on November 11th, Jesse Dwyer, the Town Supervisor of Warwick Town in Orange County, stated on the evening of the 11th that wildfires were also reported north of the east bank of Cliff Road, with residents in the area preparing for possible evacuations. If evacuations become necessary, the American Legion Post at 40 Mountain Lakes Lane will serve as a shelter, with personnel from the American Red Cross present to assist.
The New York Air National Guard has deployed Black Hawk helicopters equipped with water tanks to drop hundreds of gallons of water in the affected areas. Due to the smoke from the wildfires affecting air quality, parts of the greater New York area (including New York City and northeastern New Jersey) issued air pollution warnings over the past weekend.
In what Governor Hochul considers the most severe wildfire in nearly 16 years, the firefighting efforts tragically resulted in the death of 18-year-old firefighter Dariel Vasquez.