Crews battle 'rapid spread' conditions against Jennings Creek fire in Northeast

Hundreds of firefighters were facing adverse conditions Wednesday at they tried to control the Jennings Creek Wildfire on the New York/New Jersey border, which has grown to 5,000 acres across both states.

The fire was 30% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in a Wednesday update, but suppressing efforts were hampered by dry air and extensive foliage that serves as tinder after two months without substantial rain. None is in the immediate forecast either.

The National Weather Service warned that relative humidity levels between 20% and 30% and wind gusts of around 15 mph through the afternoon increased the chances wildfires could grow.

“Due to the combination of marginal winds and very low relative humidity values, these conditions could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control,’’ the NWS said.

Helicopters have been dousing portions of the blaze with water, but Commander Christopher Franek of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said direct access for his crews has been hindered by the lack of trails or well-maintained fire roads in what he called “very steep, rugged country.’’

“It’s very difficult to get in there,’’ said Franek, adding that 10 structures in the area were threatened.

The Jennings Creek Wildfire has claimed one victim, 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, a New York state parks worker who was helping battle the blaze when a tree fell on him and killed him, authorities said.

Two brush fires in Manhattan park

A two-alarm fire was burning a large portion of brush at Inwood Hill Park at the north end of Manhattan, the Fire Department of New York City said Wednesday evening.

The department said on social media it responded with several units, including drones, marine and brush fire units, and urged nearby residents to close windows in their homes and avoid the area.

News media reports citing FDNY sources said there were two brush fires in the 196-acre park Wednesday, but the first one was extinguished at about 4 p.m.

Mark D. Levine, the Manhattan Borough president, posted video of the fire and said at about 5:30 p.m. it was still burning over a "significant part of Inwood Hill Park.''

The FDNY said it has responded to 229 brush fires since Oct. 29, calling it the most in city history over a two-week stretch.

Region in desperate need of rain

Southeast New York and all of New Jersey are grappling with one of their driest fall stretches on record, and the one-quarter inch of rain that fell from Sunday night to Monday did little to relieve the drought.

In announcing a temporary statewide ban on outdoor burning Tuesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said “the conditions we’re facing are still pretty dire.’’ Hochul also said there are currently about 15 wildfires burning in the state, an unusually high number for this time of year.

Neighboring New Jersey has had to contend with 10 wildfires of its own over the past week, including one across the Hudson River from uptown New York City, where haze was visible and the air smelled of smoke over the weekend.

Before this week’s sprinkle, New Jersey endured in September and October its two driest back-to-back months since record keeping began in 1895, averaging less than an inch of rain statewide, the Bergen Record reported.

Amtrak rides from NY Penn Station to New Haven still suspended

Amtrak said Wednesday afternoon its planned resumption of train service between New York Penn Station and New Haven, Connecticut – a heavily used line that connects New York City to Boston – would be delayed until further notice. There’s no timetable for when service might be restored.

Two fires a quarter mile from each other near Amtrak’s tracks in the Bronx left the trains without power Tuesday afternoon and forced the agency to suspend trips both ways on that line for the rest of the day.

“Amtrak personnel are currently assessing and repairing damages done to the tracks,’’ the agency said in a statement Wednesday. “Previously the estimated time for normal operations was at approximately 2 p.m. today. Unfortunately, at this time the tracks are still closed.’’

Mountain Fire in Southern California under control

The Mountain Fire northwest of Los Angeles, which at one point threatened 3,500 homes and businesses, is now largely under control.

California’s firefighting agency, Cal Fire, said in a Wednesday update the blaze is 60% contained after burning 20,630 acres, a number that has remained mostly steady since Thursday evening.

The fire erupted early last Wednesday in Ventura County and destroyed or damaged around 300 structures, mostly homes. No fatalities have been reported.

Contributing: Reuters