By America-Today.  November,13 2024

A wildfire fueled by drought near the New Jersey-New York border left an 18-year-

old volunteer firefighter dead, burned through thousands of acres and forecasters

are warning of an increased risk of spread Tuesday.

According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Jennings Creek wildfire in

West Milford, New Jersey, has consumed 3,500 acres and is 20% contained. The

fire is burning through Passaic County, New Jersey and Orange County, New York,

about 50 miles northwest of Manhattan.

The fire, discovered on Saturday, spread to Orange County that same night,

reported NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Dariel Vasquez, 18, was a volunteer firefighter for the Wildland Fire Crew when he

was killed by a falling tree Saturday night, NorthJersey.com reported. He was

battling the fire on the border of New Jersey and New York.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the 18-year-old volunteer with the Park Service

who lost his life battling the fire today," the Town of Warwick, New York, state in a

Facebook post.