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Officials: Jennings Creek wildfire now 90% contained on New Jersey side

As fire crews in New Jersey wind down their efforts, the fire remains at 65% contained in New York.

Chris Keating

Nov 15, 2024, 8:44 PM

Updated 19 days ago

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The New Jersey Forest Fire Services says that the Jennings Creek wildfire in Passaic County is now 90% contained on the New Jersey side of the fire. The fire, which spans across state lines into New York has been burning in the Sterling Forest since Saturday.
Chris Franek, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, says they’ll be watching what the weekend’s windy conditions will do but they’re sounding very optimistic. No more burnouts are being performed and neither are water drops from helicopters.
“We have really solid containment on our side,” Franek said during a news briefing Friday afternoon. “Our crews will be out there monitoring and working some hose lines, and making sure there are no additional flare-ups along the line.”
Fire officials say East Shore Road will remain closed in West Milford, but Beech Road will reopen on Saturday.
The smell of smoke is still in the air, and fire officials say that’ll remain until this region of Passaic County gets significant rainfall or snow.
In total, on the New Jersey side, 2,283 acres have burned.
Officials in New York are intentionally burning 400 acres of dried leaves and trees to reduce fuel for the fire before strong winds start-up over the weekend.
Officials say containment in New York is at nearly 70%. Bob Rogers, a New York state forest ranger, says that number will go up significantly.
“That fire we expect is going to consume about 400 acres but should take our containment well into the 80s by the end of this period,” Rogers said.
Due to the treacherous terrain, the fire has taken longer to control on the New York side. New Jersey has had an easier time because of roads that led to flames, according to officials.
A cause for the fire is under investigation.
New Jersey has experienced 1,295 wildfires this year, according to officials. Over 500 of those fires were in October.