Tuesday winds make the fight tougher

by Junna Base November 12, 2024

Tuesday’s weather will make it even more difficult for crews to battle the Jennings Creek wildfire, which is burning 3,500 acres of forestland in the northern part of Passaic County, which borders the New York state border.

“The risk of fire spread will increase on Tuesday,” the New Jersey Forest Fire Service warned.

According to fire officials, northwest winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour, combined with dry fuels and low relative humidity, will encourage the spread of any fires.

“Due to the combination of gusty winds and low relative humidity levels, these conditions could promote rapid spread of any fires that may develop, which could quickly become difficult to control,” the fire department’s warning said.

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“Outdoor burns are strongly discouraged. “Be sure to properly extinguish or dispose of all potential ignition sources, including smoking materials such as cigarette butts,” the fire department posted online.

On Monday evening, the fire department said there would continue to be a strong focus on “maintaining the eastern containment line in preparation for the forecast weather for Tuesday.”

As of late Monday evening, the wildfire in West Milford, New Jersey and Orange County, New York had reached 3,500 acres burning, 20% of which was contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.

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Forestry fire officials said the Jennings Creek wildfire is expected to grow to at least 5,000 acres before 100 percent containment is achieved. However, recent mapping shows the fire currently stretches across 3,500 acres in New Jersey and New York.

The fire has been burning since Friday night.

Dry conditions that prevailed until early September have increased the risk of wildfires in the state.

The origin of the fire is still under investigation.

Read more forest fire stories.