Historic drought fuels blazes across Northeast as wildfires burn on both coasts
“Not only is the fire burning on top of the ground, it’s burning under the ground," New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly said.

Nov. 11, 2024, 6:42 AM EST
By Patrick Smith
Firefighters from coast to coast are battling wildfires even as the country begins to prepare for the holiday season, with fires in New Jersey covering thousands of acres in tinderbox conditions created by a historic drought.

In California, the so-called Mountain Fire in Ventura County has grown to 20,000 acres, or 31 square miles, and was only 26% contained Sunday night, the Ventura County Fire Department said in an update. Threats remains there to critical infrastructure, highways and communities as the fire "continues to creep and smolder in steep rugged terrain," a public information officer said.

The blazes in the Northeast have claimed at least one life: Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old New York Parks employee, was killed Saturday by a falling tree while battling a fire in Sterling Forest, in New York's Orange County. A memorial service will be held for him at Ramapo High School on Monday.

The Jennings Creek Wildfire in Passaic County, New Jersey, close to the New York state line, had grown from 2,500 to 3,000 acres — about 4.6 square miles — and was only 10% contained as of 6.30 p.m. Sunday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. At least 25 structures are threatened.

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