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‘Smoke jumpers’ from out west to be brought in to Jennings Creek fire fight. The latest
Burn ban issued in New York state as wildfire danger continues
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a state-wide burn ban as wildfire conditions remain dangerous.
The battle against a wildfire on the New Jersey/New York border continued Thursday, after Orange County declared a state of emergency and crews successfully held the line of fire for another night.
As of Thursday morning, the fire was said to be 2 miles away from the town of Tuxedo according to New York State Department of Conservation officer Jeff Wernick. Tuxedo is less than 7 miles from the Rockland County border.
Read on for updates on the Jennings Creek wildfire.
Thursday’s burnout operations, which involved tactical efforts on the ground and in the air, allowed crews to make significant progress in the battle against the Jennings Creek fire.
According to a post made by Greenwood Lake mayor Tom Howley, the fire, which had as of 7:30 p.m. burned 4,756 acres, was now 69% contained.
“We hope with this positive news that everyone sleeps a little better tonight,” Howley wrote.
More than 300 firefighters from six state agencies, as well as dozens of volunteer fire companies, were part of Thursday’s suppression operations. Additional support is expected to arrive Friday from throughout New York, including help from out of state. A team of 20 wildland firefighters from Montana are anticipated Friday.
Two Chinook and two Blackhawk helicopters from New York’s Army National Guard were involved in the day’s operations, dropping 118 bucks of water totally 170,000 gallons.
At the time of Howley’s update, there were no evacuations in place and no structures “in immediate risk.” Orange & Rockland is expected to keep the power on for residents Friday, unless “something changes forcing de-energization,” Howley said. “O&R will notify residents with a robocall as quickly possible,
“Remember to be proactive and ensure all your electric [devises] are fully charged.”
“As fire suppression continues (Friday), there will be traffic congestion and smoke and particulate matter in the area,” Howley said. “East Shore Road will remain closed tomorrow, as well as the Greenwood Lake School District.”
On the New Jersey side of the wildfire fight, the blaze was 75% contained as of 7:45 p.m. Thursday, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
The Town of Tuxedo announced Thursday that “smoke jumpers,” trained experts who specialize in wildfires, will be brought in from western and Midwestern states to “ramp up the attack and make a hard push to put the entire fire to its knees.”
Smoke jumpers will assist in backburning approximately 1,500 acres from Greenwood Lake to the fire tower near Sterling Lake on Friday, and from the fire tower to Long Meadow Road on Saturday.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said crews would continue to “fight fire with fire” Thursday as they conducted controlled burns to remove debris from around the fire line, creating more visible fire and smoky conditions for the area, as well as an increase in total acreage of the fire.
Orange County declares state of emergency
Neuhaus declared a state of emergency Wednesday evening following a weeklong effort to control the fire, which as of the declaration was close to 41% contained.
“I want everyone to remain calm,” Neuhaus said in a video on Facebook Wednesday. “When I declare a state of emergency and that process, it doesn’t mean that people need to panic. It means that I have to declare a state of emergency to do certain things.”
Neuhaus said the state of emergency was necessary to implement certain safety measures, including closing East Shore Road in Greenwood Lake from 32 Edgemere Avenue to the north entrance of Woods Road to allow firefighters to work in the area.
The state of emergency also required Greenwood Lake Schools to close Thursday and Friday and halted bus services until Monday, Nov. 18.
New York State Department of Conservation officials said crews were successful in holding the line of fire overnight Wednesday and said the fire made “negligible incremental gains”
“There is still a lot burning,” Neuhaus said after he was able to survey the entire fire from the air Wednesday. “But there’s still an overwhelming amount of area that is not burning.”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials said the wildfire continued to remain within the Sterling Forest State Park and has been successfully boxed in by fire lines. As of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, no structures were reportedly under threat in New York.
The New York State parks department is temporarily “closing all activities in the woodlands area of the park.” The visitor center, lakefront area and historic furnace area would remain open.
Neuhaus said Chinook helicopters, which can carry 2,000 gallons of water, were in the air around the fire Thursday, along with Army National Guard and State Police helicopters which have been conducting water drops for several days. A total of 166 buckets were dropped on the fire Wednesday afternoon, holding approximately 600 gallons each.
Weather forecast provides no immediate relief for drought conditions
As containment efforts continue in the fight against the Jennings Creek fire, the weather forecast points to continuing dry conditions in the Lower Hudson Valley. The coming days are expected to be mild and windy, with virtually no chance of rain predicted in the next week.
At a Tuesday news conference addressing ongoing efforts to battle the Jennings Creek wildfire in New York and New Jersey, Gov. Kathy Hochul said 2024 saw one of the driest months on record in the Empire State.
The Hudson Valley has been under a level 2 drought watch by the NYSDEC and a red flag wildfire watch by the National Weather Service. The level 2 designation points to a severe drought.
Hochul placed the entire state under a temporary burn ban Tuesday due to the ongoing dry conditions, which raises the risk of wildfires. She encouraged New Yorkers to conserve water.
The statewide burn ban prohibits outdoor burning of any kind.
“Do not leave campfires (unattended),” Hochul said. “Exercise extreme caution with outdoor grills.”
What the NYSDEC says you can do to conserve water
The state DEC provided these tips on conserving water at home:
- Water lawns only when necessary, choosing watering methods that avoid waste and watering early in the morning to reduce evaporation and maximize hydration.
- Opt to reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water your plants.
- Raise cutting heights on your lawn mower as longer grass is healthier, meaning it has stronger roots and requires less water.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway and sidewalk.
- Fix any leaking pipes, hoses and faucets in your home.
Contributing: USA TODAY Network New York reporter Emily Barnes.
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