NJ Wildfire Grows To 2500 Acres, 1 Dead: Latest Updates

WAYNE, NJ — Wildfires continued to ravage along the New Jersey and New York border, with at least one large blaze growing to 2,500 acres near West Milford, officials said.

The blaze, which has become known as the Jennings Creek wildfire, stretches the New York-New Jersey border and threatens 10 structures, including the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District, New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.

A forest ranger was killed Saturday in the blaze.

The fire was not contained as of Sunday morning, the West Milford Fire Marshal’s Office told NJ.com.

"As prolonged and extremely dry conditions persist in New Jersey, the public is strongly urged to refrain from using any open flame and take every precaution possible to prevent wildfires," the forest service said in a Facebook post. "This cooperation will help responders continue to protect lives, property, and natural resources."

The West Milford Fire Department said firefighters had plans to begin backburn operations in the area of East Shore Road, Long Pond Iron Works, and various areas of Ringwood off Margaret King Boulevard.

The multi-jurisdictional fire has seen the involvement of 43 municipalities in the area from Passaic, Morris, Sussex, and Bergen counties for the structure protection of all buildings and roadways, the department said.

Officials urged that residents avoid the areas due to the large Fire department presence.

No evacuation orders have been issued.

Air quality alerts have been issued in New Jersey and New York, CBS reported.

The cause of the fire, which began Saturday, remains unknown and is under investigation, officials said.

The fire is burning near Greenwood Lake Turnpike and East Shore Road in West Milford, N.J. in Passaic County and across state lines in Orange County. A tree fell on an 18-year-old ranger on Saturday, killing him, in the Hudson Valley area along Shore Road in Greenwood Lake, officials said.

In a Facebook post, the New Jersey Fire Service said its members extend their condolences to their counterparts at the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department following the tragic line-of-duty loss of one of their team members while battling the Jennings Creek Wildfire.

Tiffany Razzano contributed additional reporting to this story.