NJ making progress against Jennings Creek Wildfire

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said it is making good progress against the Jennings Creek Wildfire, which has been burning since Saturday. The fire remains 50% contained in New Jersey and approximately 30% contained in New York.

Officials in both New York and New Jersey said residents near the fire should expect to see smoke for the next few weeks. 

Some residents in New York are being asked to stay with relatives or friends until Saturday because of smoke conditions. Greenwood Lake schools were closed Thursday and will be closed again Friday because of air quality. 

New Jersey fire officials sent crews and resources to New York Thursday to assist with fire suppression. 

Despite having a good handle on the Jennings Creek fire, officials with New Jersey’s Forest Fire Service said it has been an unprecedented year, with 561 wildfires since Oct. 1. There have been eight major fires statewide in the last two months. One wildfire in Burlington County has been burning since July. 

The Forest Fire Service said it is fully staffed at all 21 of its fire towers and has resources on the ground patrolling every county. 

The rough terrain of the Jennings Creek Wildfire has proven physically challenging for firefighters. 

“Our firefighters, they’ve been pretty much every day working 18-hour shifts, getting anywhere from four to five hours of sleep,” said Chris Franek with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. 

“They’re really beat up and tired. When they’re going out and fighting the fire in this rugged terrain, they’re carrying probably 45-50 pounds of personal gear and safety equipment. Then adding on top of that the hose, fittings and tools, and chainsaws. So they’re probably carrying 80-90 pounds of gear just to get into the woods to do the job they’re doing. They’re pretty hard core. They’re really getting after it.” 

Fire officials are asking residents to do their part to prevent the start of further fires. Outdoor wood and charcoal fires remain off limits statewide, and people are asked to properly dispose of fireplace ashes as the weather turns colder. 

“Those ashes will stay warm for a few days,” said Bill Donnelly, Chief of New Jersey’s Forest Fire Service. 

“People just underestimate the heat that can stay inside them. Make sure they’re in a metal container away from any sort of combustible material, and make sure there’s a lid on them so nothing that’s inside the container can blow out if we start to get some gusty winds.”