Wildfires are currently burning across several locations, including Pompton Lakes and West Milford, NJ; areas of Pennsylvania; and multiple sites in Orange and Sullivan Counties, NY. Winds from the northwest are pushing smoke toward various parts of Rockland County, creating a heavy, visible smoke condition and a strong odor of burning brush throughout the area. Despite the smoke, officials report that there is no immediate threat to Rockland County structures or residents. Local authorities urge residents to monitor social media for updates and to avoid calling emergency dispatch centers about the fire, as these lines need to remain open for other urgent situations.
In Greenwood Lake, a view from Orange County reveals fires raging across the landscape, with smoke and the smell of burning vegetation reaching the Ramapo area in Rockland. Tragically, during firefighting efforts on Saturday afternoon at Greenwood Lake, a Forest Ranger lost his life after being struck by a falling tree. Despite immediate CPR and airlifting to a hospital, the ranger was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The origin of the fire remains disputed. Some New Jersey sources suggest the fire began on the New York side of the border, while New York first responders believe it may have started on the New Jersey side. The ranger was involved in the Jennings Creek Fire, a large-scale wildfire that has been under intense monitoring by multiple agencies, including the Town of Warwick Police Department, State Police, State Forest Rangers, and the Greenwood Lake Fire Department. Though not threatening any structures immediately, the fire has resulted in significant smoke and odor in the Warwick/Greenwood Lake area.
Governor Kathy Hochul deployed a coordinated, multi-agency response on Saturday, engaging state and local fire departments to address fires affecting nearly 1,800 acres in Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange Counties. This fire, the Jennings Creek wildfire, is now the largest of nine active wildfires in New York and New Jersey, intensified by ongoing drought conditions.
Updates will follow as more information becomes available.