‘Fighting this fire has been a challenge.’ Weather hampers firefighting efforts at Jennings Creek
Officials say they anticipate the fire will consume 5,000 acres before it is fully contained.
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Coordinated efforts between fire crews in New Jersey and New York continue as they battle the Jennings Creek Wildfire along the state border. At last check, 2,283 acres have already burned, and the fire is 30% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
While crews continue firefighting efforts, officials are reminding people who live in this area or visitors to the area of park closures and local street closures, like along East Shore Road.
Firefighting operations were a little different on Tuesday because of the winds. Wind speed, wind direction and even the drop in temperature impacted firefighting efforts.
Christopher Franek, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said fighting this fire has been a challenge.
"Fire crews are going in there and attacking it by ground transport. They’re pretty much hiking their way in and there’s really no easy access they’re carrying all their equipment,” he said.
The rough terrain was already making firefighting efforts tough, but the wind added another layer of difficulty.
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"Due to the red flag conditions, we’re not doing any burning-out operations today. The smoke you’re seeing is burning from the interior of the fire,” Franek said.
But officials said that the cooler temperatures on Tuesday helped with the effort.
“As the temperatures drop, the humidity will come up a little bit more, thus allowing the fuels to absorb a little bit of the ambient moisture in the air, thus allowing them to moisten a little bit and slow down fire progression,” Franek said.
First responders are reminding people who live in the area or just want to catch a glimpse of the fire to stay away. If they come and get hurt and have to be treated, it takes resources away from the firefighting efforts.
