Breaking News

Thousands of acres of woods continue to burn with no relief in sight from the weather, as firefighters at the Jennings Creek / Sterling Forest blazes in Orange and Passaic Counties struggle to keep them contained. That’s according to The Journal News. The fires forced the Greenwood Lake Union Free School District in Orange County to cancel all after-school activities Wednesday, and cancel classes today and tomorrow. So far Rockland has been spared the huge wildfires that Orange and Passaic are experiencing, though recently Clarkstown had smaller fires to contend with, which supervisor George Hoehmann says charred about 3.5 acres…

As of late yesterday afternoon, officials said the fires were being controlled, but only about 20 percent contained. Meanwhile, the lack of rain prompted Rockland yesterday to officially enter a “drought watch” in which residents are encouraged to conserve water. Water levels at Lake Deforest are near-average, but water conservation efforts are suggested to preserve drinking water resources and keep water available for fighting fires. 

Thousands of acres of woods in New York and New Jersey continue to burn, with the nearby Jennings Creek/Sterling Forest State Park fire estimated to have consumed more than 5,000 acres as of late yesterday afternoon. In an update yesterday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said hundreds of firefighters and personnel from many state organizations were working to contain the blazes…

18 year-old Pomona resident Dariel Vasquez, a Ramapo High School graduate who worked for the Parks and Recreation department, was killed while helping to contain the fires on Saturday in the Sterling Forest area of Greenwood Lake. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said the fires have been among the most difficult situations he’s ever seen…

New York State Police determined Vasquez was killed around 3:44 Saturday afternoon when he was struck by a fallen tree. Randy Simons is the New York State Parks Commissioner, and he praised Dariel’s efforts to save others…

Frank Voce of Congers is with the Rockland County Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, and he said too many firefighters like Vasquez pay the ultimate price protecting others… 

Brenda called “The Morning Show” yesterday and suggested reaching out to people who are in the area and offer assistance, if possible…

Weather conditions continue to favor brush fires, as the humidity is projected to be low, no rain in sight, and winds kicking up, encouraging the flames to spread. The county and now the state both continue to enforce outdoor burn bans, including the burning of brush, leaves, and other yard debris, along with fire pits and campfires.

Fires in Orange County and Northern New Jersey, known as the Jennings Creek Fire, continue to burn and put residents’ homes and lives in jeopardy. Ramapo supervisor Michael Specht says the fires aren’t that far from Ramapo, and the smell of smoke is noticeable, but for now it has not come much closer to Rockland…

Kurt Mulligan is with the Stony Point Fire Department, and on Friday’s “Who Wants to be a Volunteer” program, said the weather hasn’t been all that cooperative in the effort to battle the blazes…

The National Weather Service continues to post red flag warnings due to the increased risk of fire. Earlier this month, Rockland County implemented an outdoor burn ban, covering activities such as the burning of brush, leaves, and other yard debris, along with fire pits and campfires. As of late yesterday, News 12 estimated the fire to have covered more than 5,000 acres. While a blaze in Pompton Lakes was contained over the weekend, the main fire along Jennings Creek, centered in West Milford in Passaic County, was just 10% contained, that’s according to The Times Herald-Record. Meanwhile, more than 100 family and friends held a vigil at Ramapo High School yesterday for 18 year-old Dariel Vasquez, who was killed over the weekend fighting the fires. That’s according to the Journal News. Vasquez graduated from Ramapo this past spring. State Police are investigating his death.

A Ramapo High School graduate who worked for the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department was killed Saturday while battling a fire in Sterling Forest in Orange County’s Greenwood Lake. New York State Police say 18 year-old Dariel Vasquez, a member of the Wildland Fire Crew, died when a tree fell. In a statement yesterday, governor Kathy Hochul commended Vasquez’s “dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers, and his bravery on the front lines.” Rockland County Executive Ed Day called him “a true hero.” Kurt Mulligan is with the Stony Point Fire Department, and on Friday’s “Who Wants to be a Volunteer” program, said we continue to be at a high-elevated risk for more fires, and that could be taxing on the county’s volunteers…

60 wildfires have scorched more than 21-hundred acres in the state since October first, according to a state forest ranger. Several fires are burning in Orange County, where the County Executive has urged residents nearby to have evacuation plans, if necessary. A memorial service will reportedly be held at noon today for Vasquez on the Ramapo High School baseball field in Spring Valley. He was captain of, and played second base for, the varsity baseball team until his graduation last spring. New York State Police are investigating the incident that led to his death.

Some students in the Nyack School District were sent explicitly racist text messages, similar to messages sent to others around the country after Election Day on Tuesday. In a letter sent to parents yesterday, Interim Superintendent of Schools Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi said the messages targeted Black and Brown middle and high school students. The texts state that they will, quote, “make students slaves, take them to plantations to pick cotton” or “they will be deported to Africa.” Ruiz-Giovinazzi said the messages did not originate locally, and have targeted people in other states, around the country, and have even targeted elementary school students. The Rockland County Sheriff’s office is investigating. Rockland BOCES and the Nyack NAACP are working on a county-wide response to counter “the hatred and uplift the students.” If you got similar messages, report them to the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau by calling 1-800-771-7755. You can also file a complaint online.