On November 9, 2024, people witnessed a wildfire burning and spreading on a mountain in West Milford, New Jersey, USA.
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Thousands of acres of land burned in New Jersey on Monday amid a historic drought and fires raged in Ventura County, Calif., as strong winds swept through California last week and firefighters on both coasts battled wildfires.
Late-season fires in the weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday are a reminder that wildfires are quickly becoming a year-round danger in the United States
In California, the so-called wildfire in Ventura County has spread to 20,630 acres (32 square miles) and was only 36% contained late Monday. According to CAL Fire, the state agency responsible for fire protection. About 2,800 people are working to contain the blaze, which has damaged or destroyed nearly 250 buildings since it began on Wednesday.
Ventura County Fire Chief Tony McHale said the blaze was initially driven by the famous Santa Ana winds, which roared at 60 mph and had gusts as high as 80 mph.
“It’s like trying to put out a blowtorch with a water gun” in such challenging conditions, McHale said.
Six people were injured.
Firefighters took advantage of favorable conditions overnight and into Monday morning to establish containment lines around the blaze. Forecasters expect a cold front to move into the area, causing higher humidity but also gusty winds Monday night.
Nearly 2,500 miles away, several fires burned across the rugged, drought-stricken terrain of New York and New Jersey.
An infographic titled “Jennings Creek Wildfire” was created in Ankara, Turkey, on November 12, 2024. Firefighters continue to battle blazes in New York and New Jersey that spread to 5,000 acres, killed a park employee and extended Post-Veterans Day plans.
Murat Usubari | Anadolu | Getty Images
Three New Jersey counties are experiencing “extreme” drought, while the rest of the state is experiencing severe or moderate drought, according to the weather service. US Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“We’re experiencing an unprecedented drought, our critical fuels are at all-time highs right now, or the forest floor is drying out, and we’re seeing things New Jersey hasn’t seen in a long time,” said Chris Frank of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. said at a press conference on Monday.
Fires in Northeast have killed at least one person: Dariel Vasquez, 18, a New York parks employee Killed by falling tree on Saturday He was fighting a fire in Sterling Forest, Orange County, New York. A memorial service is scheduled for Monday at Ramapo High School.
The Jennings Creek Wildfire is burning on the border of Passaic County, New Jersey, and Orange County, New York. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the fire had spread to 3,500 acres (about 4.6 square miles) and was only 20% contained by Monday afternoon. At least 10 buildings are threatened.
While only a quarter of an inch of rain fell on the fireground Sunday night, authorities said it was enough to give firefighters a break but not enough to put out the blaze.
“This does not solve the wildfire problem we have here. This fire will inevitably continue to burn until it reaches our containment lines,” New Jersey Forest Fire Chief Bill Donnelly said at a news conference on Sunday.
He said the fire is likely to continue into the weekend, when the department hopes to secure containment lines and contain the fire.
Officials in Warwick, New York, asked residents near the fire to voluntarily evacuate Sunday night.
“Twelve homeowners evacuated their residences. Fortunately, we were able to contain the fire,” Orange County Emergency Services Commissioner Peter Siriano said at a news conference Monday morning. He added that no Any house burned down.
Town Supervisor Jesse Dwyer said the fire was “one of the worst natural disasters” Warwick has ever experienced. “If things get worse, the threat to life and property could really get worse,” he said.
The village of Greenwood Lake, east of Warwick, lost power Sunday night as a precaution and the American Red Cross set up a shelter.
Donnelly said his team has fielded calls since Oct. 1 with 537 reports of wildfires in New Jersey alone.
The fire in Burlington County has been burning since July 5, Donnelly said.
this The National Weather Service warned that wind gusts of up to 35 mph could sweep through the area on Tuesday When a cold front hits.
“The risk of fire spread increases on Tuesday,” the agency wrote in a special statement. “Conditions will support the spread of any ignited fires, which could quickly become uncontrollable.”
