For several days, firefighters have been battling the flames both on the coast and on the west coast of the United States.
Fires are raging across the United States. Firefighters are mobilized to try to extinguish the flames in California on the American west coast and in New Jersey and New York State on the east coast.
If hundreds of brush fires have broken out in these states on the east coast of the United States in recent weeks, it is currently the Jennings Creek Wildfire that is causing problems. This fire has already claimed one life: an 18-year-old New York State Parks Department employee who was killed by a falling tree while helping fight the flames this Saturday.
“A high risk of fire spreading”
According to the latest report from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service on Tuesday, November 12, more than 14,000 hectares have burned in Passaic County, New Jersey, and Orange County, New York. Despite the resources deployed, only 20% of the fire has been brought under control at this stage. And the authorities fear that the situation will deteriorate and that their fight will become more complex.
The National Weather Service has in fact issued a red watch for northeastern New Jersey fearing wind gusts of up to 56 km/h.
“The combination of strong winds, low humidity and drought creates a very high risk of fire spread,” the bulletin said.
And the rain that fell this Monday will not change anything, as the region has been sorely lacking in precipitation since September. Before these rains, the last measurable precipitation in New Jersey occurred on September 28, says the American news agency Associated Press.
“Under the dead leaves falling from the trees, everything is dry,” New York State Department of Environmental Protection ranger Bryan Gallagher said at a news conference.
According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the risk of fires is “extreme” in the northern part of the state and “very high” in the central part.
Since October 1, firefighters in this state have been mobilized for 537 forest fires, including approximately 40 which broke out between this Friday and this Saturday, according to the forest fire chief, Bill Donnelly, cited by ABC.
More than 8 hectares burned in California
And they are not the only ones fighting the flames. At the other end of the country, in California, a fire called the “Mountain Fire” has been devouring Ventura County since November 6. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Cal Fire, more than 20 acres burned. The flames destroyed more than 130 homes and damaged 46 others, according to CBS News. A firefighter and five civilians were also injured.
More than 10,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom. And $2.4 million in agricultural damage has been recorded at this point.
The thousands of firefighters mobilized, however, seem to be regaining the upper hand, helped by more favorable weather conditions. The wind gusts are less severe than those recorded the previous week – up to 130 km/h – favoring the spread of the fire. At this point, the fire has been 42% contained.
Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner praised the firefighters' “heroic” response this Sunday evening, saying he was “grateful for the number of lives that were saved” and the fact that there were “no death reported.
“I know we made mistakes, but we will learn from them,” he said, according to USA Today. “We can rebuild, we can recover, and we will heal.”
