December 02, 2024
Wildfires left a path of destruction across New York State throughout the month of November. New York, along with New England and the entire Northeast region, saw little rain for several weeks and faced the worst wildfire season in over a decade.
According to state officials, over 400 fire departments statewide with over 1,300 personnel had been deployed to combat the fires across the state and to assist with their containment, while over 500,000 gallons of water were dropped over the Orange County fire.
Meanwhile, USA Today reported that a fire at the New York-New Jersey border broke a containment line and prompted an evacuation of more than 160 homes, allowing firefighters to confront the Jennings Creek fire uninterrupted.
“As fire departments continue their work to contain wildfires across the state, coordination with localities and our partners in New Jersey remains critical to protect communities close to the fires and keep them safe,” Gov. Hochul stated. “With rain on the way to help alleviate some strain from the fires and the drought, we encourage New Yorkers to conserve their water usage and not to burn fires outdoors.”
Historic Brush Fires
Furthermore, a “first-of-its-kind” brush fire task force was created to what officials called a historic increase in brush fires occurring throughout the five boroughs. From Nov. 1 to Nov. 14, the FDNY responded to 271 brush fires across the city, marking the highest two-week period in New York’s history.
As of Nov. 20, statewide, there were six wildfires burning in New York State, encompassing nearly 6,031 acres, including the Jennings Creek/Sterling Forest State Park fire. A statewide burn ban was put into effect until Nov. 30, which has since been lifted, and the fires have since been put out.