Jennings Creek Fire update

Fire suppression efforts for the Jennings Creek Fire in Sterling Forest State Park appear to be nearing the end. On Wednesday morning, Greenwood Lake Mayor Tom Howley said the fire was still 90% contained and 5,304 acres burned, an estimate also given on Tuesday.

According to Mayor Howley, the fire crews on Wednesday were focused on extinguishing hot spots within 50 feet of the fire lines, a process that involves “digging to mineral soil and thoroughly cooling the area with water.”

The fire is being fought by NYS DEC forest rangers, state agencies, volunteer fire crews, and Montana firefighters, as well as air support from New York Air National Guard Chinook helicopters.

Wednesday’s progress furthered the good news Warwick Town Supervisor Jesse Dwyer reported Tuesday, when he announced that fire crews would be winding down operations to reduce the overall footprint within the community. He added, “Interior fire crews will continue working around the clock to identify any hot spots within the containment zone and they will continue doing this for at least another week or until we are all 100% confident the fire has been extinguished.”

The voluntary evacuation for Wah Ta Wah Park and Edgemere was fully rescinded Tuesday and East Shore Road was reopened for non-emergency travel. Dwyer asked residents to use caution when traveling on East Shore while tree crews continue to remove hazardous trees from the area. Rain is forecasted to finally hit our area this week, which Dwyer noted could cause sediment run off and make travel dangerous.

No structures have been damaged during the fire. “The fact that we lost zero structures in this event is a true miracle. This is a testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of our local fire departments, as well as regional partners and the state park service,” said Dwyer. “They single-handedly saved our community and we are forever grateful for their service. I can confidently say the success of this operation would not have been possible without volunteer efforts. From the volunteer fire EMS to civilian volunteers delivering meals to the front lines. I have never before seen so many committed volunteers come together for a unified cause under such extreme circumstances and it has become so clear what makes our community so great – our dedicated volunteers. On behalf of the town board and the entire Town of Warwick, we thank you.”

After being closed Nov. 14, 15, and 18, Greenwood Lake schools reopened on Tuesday, though certain after-shool activities were still limited.

In a statement, Mayor Howley thanked the many agencies, volunteers, and first responders for their help. “Your bravery and commitment reflect the very best of us,” he said.

Howley added, “A special thank you to the restaurants that came together to provide over 1,300 meals daily, ensuring that everyone on the frontlines was cared for. To the volunteers who staffed firehouses and organized support efforts, and to the countless individuals whose generous donations to the GoFundMe campaign helped ease the burden of these efforts: you are the heartbeat of this community. Together, we’ve shown that our strength lies in unity, and we are stronger than ever because of you. Thank you for being a part of this extraordinary journey. Let’s continue to lift each other up and celebrate the resilience that defines us.”

Weekend developments

On the evening of Nov. 16, the Jennings Creek Fire jumped one of the containment lines between 32 Edgemere and Wah Ta Wah Park. As the fire began to spread, the town issued a voluntary evacuation for residents from 32 Edgemere to Emerald Point. An evacuation site was set up at the Greenwood Lake Middle School located at 1247 Lakes Rd. Police and other emergency personnel were on hand to assist with the evacuation, which included people’s pets.

The evacuation was requested in order to more effectively move fire equipment to the affected area, Jesse Dwyer said in an update on Facebook over ther weekend. But by Monday the evacuation had been eased for several homes in the affected areas.

Fire officials said the fire spread beyond the containment line by about five acres on Saturday, and that while the fire breached a containment line, it had not reached the contingency line.

Residents are encouraged to abide by the statewide burn ban in effect to prevent additional wildfires as dry conditions persist. On Monday the area’s Drought Watch was elevated to a Drought Warning. It is unclear at this time whether the forecasted rain for the week will change that designation.

On Sunday, Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered flags on state buildings to be flown at half-staff starting at sunrise on Nov. 18, in honor of 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, who was fatally injured on Nov. 11, while helping to create a fire line at the Jennings Creek wildfire.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Vasquez family as they mourn the sudden and tragic loss of Dariel,” Hochul said. “Dariel was only 18 years old and had a truly bright future ahead of him that has now been unfairly taken away. I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers and his bravery on the front lines.”

Vasquez was an aide at the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department. He is survived by his mother Miosotis and his father Juan.