A dangerous bushfire threat continues to grip the North East, with fire warnings in force in several states.

The high fire danger, affecting 23 million people, is expected to last through the weekend as the region remains bone dry with little to no rain on the horizon.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, northeasterly winds will bring in a very dry air mass from the north on Wednesday.

Relative humidity will drop even further compared to Tuesday, with minimum values ​​of up to 20%.

Good news will be that the wind will not be as strong in the afternoon hours, with gusts of 30-40 km/h.

Increasing humidity will lead to a brief respite in fire potential on Thursday, but that respite will be short-lived.

A new multi-day episode about fire brigade starts on Friday and lasts all weekend.

Increased winds are the last thing firefighters need as they battle the raging Jennings Creek Fire that stretches across the New York and New Jersey state lines.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) told FOX Weather on Wednesday that the Jennings Creek Fire is estimated to have scorched as much as 5,000 acres once it is 100% contained.

As it stands, nearly 2,300 acres have burned in New Jersey alone, 30% of which is within the state.

The NJFFS reported that firefighters were actively involved in the fire and that firefighting tactics were holding the line.

“Progress is being made in suppressing this fire. Very good progress,” said Chris Franek, assistant division wildland fire ranger for the NJFFS.

Nearly 300 first responders, including volunteers and rangers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, worked to strengthen existing burn lines between the fire and nearby populated areas such as Wah Ta Wah Park and Sylvan Park.

There are no evacuations in effect and no buildings in New Jersey or New York in immediate danger.

New York State Police said 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, a Parks and Recreation assistant employed by the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department, died while fighting a wildfire in Orange County.

A GoFundMe account describes Vasquez as saying he was the captain of his high school baseball team and dreamed of going to college in January, FOX 5 in New York reported.

On Tuesday afternoon, Amtrak canceled all flights from New York to New Haven, Connecticut due to a fire near the tracks in the Bronx.

In any case, the service would not resume until Wednesday.

At a news conference Tuesday evening, Kevin Woods, chief of operations for the New York Fire Department, said two separate fires broke out in the Bronx on Tuesday afternoon.

One in a transformer near the Amtrak tracks, another in a structure.

A brush fire broke out near the building fire.

The causes of the fire are under investigation, Woods said.

“There have been more wildfires in the last 11 days than in any previous month in over two years,” Woods said.

Another FDNY spokesperson said Amtrak will assess damage to the tracks.

Amtrak said the Metro-North Railroad will honor tickets between New York’s Grand Central Station and New Haven during the suspension of service.

Smoke from the wildfires drifted into New York City on Saturday, causing hazy skies, poor air quality and reports of smoky odors.