PASSAIC COUNTY, New Jersey (WABC) — Firefighters continued to battle a blaze in New York and New Jersey on Monday that killed a park employee and postponed plans for Veterans Day.

As of Monday evening, the Jennings Creek Wildfire scorched a total of 3,500 acres between the New Jersey and New York sides, but the New Jersey Department of Environmental Preservation said they expect the wildfire to grow to at least 5,000 acres before reaching 100% containment.

Officials estimate it is about 20% contained.

‘We used every possible means we could think of. They are on the ground, they are not going anywhere, and I would like to point out that this is the largest fire in our state since 2008. So we have never seen anything of this magnitude,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “This is the time when people need to be very, very careful about what they do so that we don’t add to the challenges that we’re facing now and try to stop the spread.”

The fire started near the intersection of Lake to Lake Trail and the West Valley Trail in upstate New York and then spread into New Jersey. The cause is unknown.

The fire is blamed for the death of a New York State Parks employee. New York State Police identified the 18-year-old as Dariel Vasquez, an employee of the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department. Officials say he was struck by a tree while working with firefighters.

The East Ramapo Central School District told Eyewitness News that Vasquez was a graduate of the Class of 2024. A Go Fund Me campaign in the fallen volunteer firefighter’s name has raised more than $45,000 to date.

“Many of the personnel currently involved in the fires are veterans themselves, and at this time we must keep them in our thoughts as they spend long hours, day and night, doing whatever they can to protect our great communities in that area ,” he posted online.

The crews are severely understaffed as most are just volunteer firefighters. Despite the lack of efficient assistance, efforts to protect nearby homes continued Monday.

“In my 50-plus years of living here, this has been the most significant and potentially dangerous situation I have seen or been involved in,” said Greenwood Lake Mayor Thomas Howley.

Sunday evening’s light rain did little to minimize the spread of the wildfires, but did provide a brief respite for the approximately 230 personnel who traveled from far and wide to help one of the worst natural disasters in decades to fight.

“These local springs have continued to rise since Saturday when this thing really blew up,” said Bryan Gallagher of the New York State Forest Rangers. “So that gives us some time to catch our breath. But tomorrow the wind will return.’

The fire has penetrated the roots of the trees and can spread underground.

‘It’s like putting a band-aid on something. It helps, any kind of wetness helps, but the forest isn’t looking great for the next few days. It looks dry. It doesn’t look that moist. water that we get and we certainly need a lot of it,” Howley said.

On Monday evening, some West Milford residents picked up items to donate to first responders. Carol Johansson has two firefighters in her family.

“I know what it’s like to wait for your husband and your son to come home,” she said.

A burning ban has been in place since October 29 and officials continue to urge residents not to start fires or use grills.

Since October 1, the NJ Forest Fire Service has responded to 537 wildfires that have burned a total of 4,500 acres across the state. In the same time frame, there have been 60 wildfires in New York that have burned more than 2,100 acres.

OTHER WILDFIRES

Pompton Lakes bushfire

The Pompton Lakes fire was 100% contained by 6:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

The 181-acre wildfire was burning in the area of ​​Cannonball Road.

Early in the firefight, 55 buildings were threatened, but no buildings were evacuated.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Palisades Interstate Parkway Wildfire

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, the NJ Forest Fire Service said 75% of the 80-acre wildfires near the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County, were contained.

There are currently no threatened structures and no evacuation orders.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Wildfire in Jackson Township

As of 6:30 PM Friday, the Shotgun Wildfire has burned 800 acres and is now 90% contained in Jackson Township, Ocean County.

A Brick Township, New Jersey, man was charged with arson in connection with the Jackson Township wildfire.

Police say Richard Shashaty, 37, started the fire Wednesday when he shot a gun and ignited the flames with the ammunition. In addition to the arson charge, he will also face weapons charges.

Shashaty surrendered himself to police on Saturday and is currently in jail awaiting a hearing.

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