While fighting a wildfire in Sterling Forest, one of several fires that broke out in the area this week, an 18-year-old park ranger lost his life in the US state of New York. State police identified the teenager as Dariel Vasquez. According to officials, Mr Vasquez, who worked for the state's parks and recreation department, was fighting the fire when he was murdered.As of Sunday, multiple brush fires were blazing around New England on the east coast of the United States, fueled by warm, dry weather.
Wildfires have also broken out on the other side of the country, in southern California, where more than 100 structures have burnt.
Mr Vasquez's death was "deeply saddened" by New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday."My prayers go out to his family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time," according to her. Fires on the East Coast prompted air quality advisories in the neighboring states of New York and New Jersey. Hochul stated that one inferno, the Whitehouse Fire, is blazing in Ulster and Sullivan counties, west of Hartford, Connecticut, and has spread to 400 acres. Two more are blazing in Sterling Forest State Park, roughly 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of New York City.
A brush fire broke out in Prospect Park in Brooklyn earlier this week, filling the entire city with the stench of smoke. Wildfires are unusual within city borders, but the region is now experiencing a drought. Officials stated it took almost three hours and over 100 first responders to extinguish the fire. In Orange County, where the Sterling Forest State Park flames are raging, County Executive Steve Neuhaus warned residents to prepare an escape plan."At this time, the Incident Command team has not indicated that evacuations are imminent, but we continue to monitor the situation carefully," he told reporters on Sunday.
New Jersey officials have urged citizens to "take every precaution possible" to prevent fires and have cautioned people against starting open fires.On Saturday, a 37-year-old man was detained in New Jersey's Jackson Township for allegedly starting a fire earlier this week with his shotgun. Richard Shashaty is facing various charges, including arson, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Crews in southern California have contained 26% of the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, which had burnt over 20,000 acres as of Sunday. In less than two days, the fire destroyed 132 structures, most residences, officials reported on Thursday. The cause is still being investigated.
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