POMPTON LAKES, NJ — Crews continued to battle multiple wildfires in northern New Jersey on Saturday.

Fires broke out across the state this week Drought affecting the Tri-State Area continues.

“Overall, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded to more than 400 fires last month and approximately 40 fires between yesterday and today,” New Jersey Forest Fire Chief Bill Donnelly said Saturday. he said.

Fire officials say a significant amount of rain is needed to provide firefighters with some relief.

“It’s in Mother Nature’s hands. We’ll take a break when it brings rain, but until we see that, I don’t see any gap in sight,” Donnelly said. “We’re not talking about rain showers or anything like that. We’re talking about inches of rain, you know, a nice, slow, steady rain that can penetrate the ground. Because the ground is so hard right now, take a heavy shower or something, it’ll just blow off the ground.”

One Air quality warning issued for Northern New Jerseyto 12 a.m. Monday along with New York City and the Hudson Valley due to smoke.

1 person died in the fire that spread to New Jersey and New York

The most recently reported fire is the Jennings Creek wildfire near Greenwood Lake Turnpike and East Shore Road in West Milford. New Jersey Forest Fire Service I first reported it on Saturday around 14:15.

“This is a fire that started yesterday. Our fire tower spotted it and it was detected in New York. Yesterday afternoon the fire was moving towards New York. The wind changed overnight and started pushing the fire towards New Jersey,” Donnelly said. .

fire department said Spread over an area of ​​2,000 acresPart of New York’s Orange County is included and not covered at all. Donnelly says this is the largest wildfire the state has seen so far this year.

The fire department said a total of 10 structures, including two homes, were at risk of fire, but no evacuations were taking place at this time.

East Shore Road and Beach Road are closed, as are all roads in Long Pond Ironworks State Park and Tranquility Ridge.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus in a video He said someone who responded to the fire Saturday afternoon was killed. According to reports, a tree fell and hit first responders. East Dutchess County Fire and Rescue said he was taken to a local hospital but did not survive. Further details have not yet been released.

Pompton Lakes fire

Cannonball 3 wildfire near Cannonball Road in Pompton Lakes first reported early Saturday morning.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported just before 3:30 p.m. that the fire had spread to 164 acres and was 50% contained. The service says the flames threaten 55 structures, but none have been evacuated at this time.

“Realistically everything looks good,” Donnelly said of the Pompton Lakes fire.

Englewood Cliffs fire

A wildfire is burning along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs. starting from Thursday night to FridayAfter spreading over an area of ​​39 decares, 75% of it is now under control, fire department said Saturday evening.

No structures are threatened at this time and the fire department said there will be no additional updates regarding this fire unless there are significant developments.

Fire officials have not determined the cause of any of these three fires at this time.

Wildfires in New Jersey

continuing dry and windy conditions It has helped fuel a number of wildfires in New Jersey in recent days, including one that started Wednesday in Jackson Township.

Fire officials say the wildfire ultimately spread to 350 acres, but crews We managed to get it under 90% control by Friday evening..

The Ocean County prosecutor’s office announced Saturday that the cause of the fire was determined to be magnesium fragments from a shotgun shell that ignited flammable materials at the edge of the shooting range. Brick Township man arrested and charged Arson and firearms regulatory violations in connection with the Jackson Township wildfire.

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