GREENWOOD LAKE – The Jennings Creek fire that has claimed the life of a teenage state parks employee is continuing to grow. On Monday afternoon the fire had consumed 5,000 acres and was only 20 percent contained. To complicate matters, a new fire has ignited in the area above East Shore north of Cliff Road, just after 5:00 p.m. Monday.
Winds approaching 40 MPH are expected in the area on Tuesday to further hinder firefighting operations while also making it possible for embers to drop in a new area, sparing another fire. There is no significant rainfall in the forecast for the next 48 hours.
Eighteen-year-old Daniel Vasquez, an employee of New York State Parks was battling the blaze on Saturday when a tree fell on him. Two NYS Forest Rangers provided life-saving techniques but the teen died at the scene. More about Vasquez can be found here.
The new fire ignition was reported by Warwick Town Supervisor Jesse Dwyer in a conversation with Mid Hudson News on Monday evening. Noting that no mandatory evacuation has been ordered, Dwyer warned that residents in the area should begin preparing for a possible evacuation of the area. If an evacuation is ordered, the American Legion located at 40 Mountain Lakes Lane will be available as a shelter and staffed by the American Red Cross.
Dwyer called the fire “One of the worst natural disasters to hit the region in decades.” Voluntary evacuation of residents began on Sunday, with the Warwick Police Department going door-to-door on Cliff Road to warn the residents of the growing fire.
New York Fire Departments assisting:
Dutchess County:
- Rhinebeck
- East Fishkill
- Chelsea
Orange County:
- Greenwood Lake
- Salsbury Mills
- MonroePine Island
- Montgomery
- Fort Montgomery
- Port Jervis
- Slate Hill
Rockland County:
Westchester County:
- She's a soldier
- Buchanan
- Goldens Bridge
- Bedford Hills
Out of area departments:
- Greenport
- Hillburn
- Otego
- Berne
- E. Bern
- Unadilla
- Windham
- Prattsville
- W. Florence
- Coeyman’s Hollow
There are more than 240 firefighters from dozens of agencies in both New York and New Jersey working at the fire.
The New York Air National Guard has deployed Blackhawk helicopters equipped with buckets capable of dropping hundreds of gallons of water on the fire with each pass. They are complimented by two helicopters from the New York State Police that have similar buckets to carry water to drop on the flames.
Health advisories had been issued over the weekend for parts of New York, including New York City, and northeastern New Jersey due to unhealthy air quality produced by smoke from the fires.
