Strong winds and low levels of humidity are contributing to the spread of wildfires across the Northeast, with various cities in the area on high alert this Saturday.
Red flag warnings have been issued for several locations in the Northeast, expiring Saturday afternoon, highlighting the heightened fire danger due to rising temperatures, extremely low humidity, and gusty winds.
The National Weather Service announced that red flag warnings will extend across many cities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island from 9 a.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. The area’s vegetation remains critically dry, as it has experienced a deficit of about 6 to 8 inches in rainfall since the beginning of September. A cold front approaching on Sunday is expected to bring up to one inch of much-needed rain.
In Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, firefighters battled a wildfire that ignited overnight from Friday into Saturday, igniting approximately two acres of parched land. The New York City Fire Department reported that crews worked diligently to put out the flames.
The FDNY stated, “This has been one of New York City’s driest periods, leading to over 100 wildfires starting just this month.”
In Pennsylvania, a fire started in Berks County due to similar dry and windy conditions, with flames reported on Mount Neversink in Redding around 11:30 p.m. on Friday. Smoke was visible as firefighters worked to control the situation.
Nearby residents were evacuated to Amanda E. Stout Elementary School as a precaution, Redding Mayor Eddie Moran confirmed.
Mayor Moran stated that the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Forestry Division would manage firefighting and cleanup efforts, which are anticipated to take several days and will coordinate additional resources as necessary.
Currently, two active wildfires are burning in Passaic County, New Jersey: the Cannonball 3 fire in Pompton Lakes and the Jennings Creek fire in West Milford, the latter extending into Orange County, New York.
The Cannonball 3 wildfire has consumed 175 acres and is 75% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Department. The investigation into its cause is ongoing, with 55 structures at risk.
Fire Marshal Bill Donnelly revealed that the fire originated on private land owned by the DuPont chemical company. Reports of the flames began to surface around 3 p.m. on Friday, and as the winds increased, the situation escalated, Mayor Mike Serra noted during a press conference.
Responses from DuPont representatives were unavailable as of Saturday night following requests for comments.
Meanwhile, the Jennings Creek wildfire, detected by firefighters on Friday, has spread over 2,000 acres and threatens 10 buildings. Its containment status is currently at 0%. Due to shifting winds, the fire has been pushed back into New Jersey, as confirmed by Donnelly, who mentioned that two helicopters and 33 firefighters are on scene to tackle the blaze.
Donnelly also mentioned that this fire is the largest recorded so far this year, and its origin remains undetermined.
Tragically, a state forest ranger lost his life while battling a fire in Greenwood Lake, New York, as reported by the Plattekill Fire Department. A tree fell on him during the efforts to control the fire, although his name has not been released.
“Brother, your shift is over, well done,” stated officials from East Dutchess County.
Last month, New Jersey Forest Fire Department responded to more than 400 fires exceeding 800 acres, compared to only 27 fires totaling 8 acres within the same timeframe last year. Donnelly warned that the “rekindling factor” remains a significant concern, as some fires from July have reignited.
Another wildfire, spanning 39 acres in Bergen County, is currently 75% contained, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
As wildfires continue to rage, air quality warnings have been issued for both New Jersey and New York, advising residents to avoid vigorous outdoor activities
On the West Coast, a large wildfire has been ongoing in California’s Ventura County, currently consuming over 20,600 acres with a containment level of 21% as of 5:29 p.m. Pacific time. The cause of this fire is under investigation, and air quality warnings are in effect across Southern California due to smoke from the fire.
Correction (Nov. 9, 2024, 7:46 PM ET): An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the name of the fires burning in Passaic County, New Jersey, and Orange County, New York. The correct name is the Jennings Creek Wildfire, not Jennings Creed Wildfire.
