WEST MILFORD, N.J. (AP/1010 WINS) — Windy conditions renewed a wildfire that escaped a containment line and prompted emergency officials to enact a voluntary evacuation plan for a small number of houses in a community near the New York-New Jersey border on Saturday.
The voluntary evacuation enacted out of “an abundance of caution” impacted about 165 houses in Warwick, New York, as firefighters continued working to tame the Jennings Creek blaze, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman Jeff Wernick said in an email Saturday night.
A local school was being used as a shelter for residents in need of one, New York State Police Troop F said in a statement. The troop said the fire necessitated a response from several public safety agencies.
“Multiple surrounding fire departments are assisting with firefighting efforts. State Police Drone Unit is on scene providing aerial assessments,” the statement said.
On Sunday, Wernick said that the voluntary evacuation will remain in place at least until Monday to allow the firefighting response to continue.
Overnight efforts to protect structures were successful and no structures are in danger as of Sunday morning, Wernick said. The voluntary evacuation “allowed emergency apparatus and firefighters to operate uninterrupted through the night.”
The small section of fire that breached the containment line did not reach the contingency line, authorities said, and response efforts continue on Sunday. State DEC forest rangers are leading firefighters from state agencies, volunteer fire companies and Montana.
Actions on Sunday will include bucket drops from New York Air National Guard Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters, and burnout operations, which will lead to more visible smoke, officials said
By Sunday morning, the wildfire had burned 5,207 acres and was 88% contained, according to the state DEC.
On Saturday, Wernick said New York Army National Guard helicopters dropped 21,000 gallons (79,493 liters) of water and a New York State Police helicopter dropped nearly 900 gallons (3,406 liters).
The fire was burning primarily in Sterling Forest State Park, where the visitor center, the lakefront area at Greenwood Lake and historic furnace area remained open but woodland activities including hunting were halted, Wernick said, noting residences around the lake have not been impacted.
A National Weather Service forecast for Warwick did not call for rain until Wednesday night. Firefighters previously said they will remain on the scene until significant rainfall occurs.
The blaze claimed the life of an 18-year-old New York parks employee who died when a tree fell on him as he helped fight the fire in Sterling Forest on Nov. 9. The fire's cause remains under investigation.
The public is encouraged to follow local official social media accounts for the most up-to-date and accurate information, including the New York State Park Police Facebook account, which will send out verified information about the wildfire.