An 18-year-old park ranger has died in the US state of New York while battling a wildfire in Sterling Forest – one of several blazes that erupted in the region this week.
Fires on the east coast led to air quality warnings in the neighbouring states of New York and New Jersey.
Two others are burning in Sterling Forest State Park, about 45 miles (72 km) north of New York City.
Earlier in the week, a brush fire erupted in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, spreading the smell of smoke across New York City.
In Orange County, where the Sterling Forest State Park fires are burning, County Executive Steve Neuhaus urged nearby residents to have an evacuation plan in place.
While fighting a wildfire in Sterling Forest, one of several fires that broke out in the area this week, an 18-year-old park ranger lost his life in the US state of New York.
State police named the teenager as Dariel Vasquez. Mr. Vasquez, who was employed by the state’s parks and recreation department, was assisting in putting out the fire when he was killed, according to officials.
As of Sunday, a number of brush fires were raging throughout the US east coast’s New England region, fueled by warm, dry weather.
More than 100 buildings have been destroyed by wildfires that have also broken out in southern California, on the opposite side of the nation.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her sadness over Mr. Vasquez’s passing on Sunday.
She said, “My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and coworkers during this trying time.”.
The neighboring states of New York and New Jersey were issued air quality warnings as a result of fires on the east coast.
One fire, known as the Whitehouse Fire, is consuming up to 400 acres in Ulster and Sullivan counties, west of Hartford, Connecticut, Hochul said in a statement.
Approximately 45 miles (72 km) north of New York City, in Sterling Forest State Park, two more are on fire.
The scent of smoke spread throughout New York City earlier this week when a brush fire broke out in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Although the area is experiencing a drought, wildfires hardly ever happen inside city limits.
According to officials, extinguishing the fire required over 100 first responders and approximately three hours.
In Orange County, where the fires are burning in Sterling Forest State Park, County Executive Steve Neuhaus encouraged locals to prepare an evacuation strategy.
In an update on Sunday, he stated, “At this time, the Incident Command team has not indicated that evacuations are imminent, but we continue to monitor the situation carefully.”.
Residents of New Jersey have been urged to “take every precaution possible” to prevent fires and have been cautioned against starting open fires.
In the Jackson Township of New Jersey, a 37-year-old man was taken into custody on Saturday after he allegedly fired his shotgun to start a fire earlier in the week.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service says Richard Shashaty is charged with arson among other offenses.
As of Sunday, firefighters in Ventura County, California, had contained 26% of the Mountain Fire, which had burned over 20,000 acres.
In less than two days, that fire destroyed 132 buildings, primarily homes, officials reported on Thursday. The cause is still being looked into.
During the fall, the Santa Ana winds—dry, warm, and gusty winds that blow from the interior toward the coast—were responsible for the fires spreading, according to California officials.
Climate change is increasing the likelihood of the weather conditions required for wildfires to spread, according to scientists.
