Wildfires are raging along both the East and West Coasts of the United States, fueled by historic drought and strong winds.
Burning Since July
Firefighters in New York and New Jersey are battling blazes that have been burning since July, with one large fire, known as the Jennings Creek Fire, impacting over 3,500 acres.
Crews have only contained 20% of it as of Monday night, and dry, windy conditions this week could worsen the situation.
Bryan Gallagher, a spokesperson for New York State Forest Rangers, shared concerns about the challenges ahead due to equipment limitations and adverse weather conditions, according to Digi24.
Despite recent rainfall slowing the spread, this week’s forecast for New York predicts dry air and gusty winds, which could reignite flames.
Tragically, an 18-year-old firefighter, Dariel Vasquez, died over the weekend while fighting the fire after being struck by a falling tree.
the Mountain Fire
Across the country in California, another major fire, the Mountain Fire, has already destroyed dozens of homes in Ventura County.
So far, firefighters have contained about 36% of this fire. However, Santa Ana winds, forecasted to reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour, threaten to spread the flames even further.
With thousands of people evacuated, Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner praised the efforts to save lives but warned that the difficult evacuation efforts were exacerbated by language barriers among local residents.
Damage assessments in California show that over 190 buildings were destroyed and another 80 were damaged since the Mountain Fire broke out last Wednesday. Crop losses in Ventura County are also significant, with more than $6 million in damages to avocado, citrus, and berry fields reported. Officials believe the total cost may rise as evaluations continue.
New York’s wildfire season is unusually severe this year, as the state hasn’t seen such conditions since 2002. Nearly 600 wildfires have erupted across New York and New Jersey since early October—500 more than during the same period last year, with most in New Jersey.
