NEW YORK (PIX11) – On Saturday, fire crews in New Jersey are battling a forest fire that spans 2,000 acres in Passaic County, according to New Jersey Fire Service.
The fire also spread to Orange County, New York Officials said.
Notice of the fire was posted on social media at around 8:00 p.m. Officials said that two Forest Fire Service helicopters capable of dropping 350 gallons of water were on the scene, and fire engines and crews were also on the ground battling the fire.
The massive fire closed East Shore Road from Awosting Road to Greenwood Lake Turnpike and Beech Road. Officials also closed all trails in Long Pond Ironworks State Park and Tranquility Ridge.
This new forest fire comes as portions of New Jersey and New York are experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in the country.
The entire state of New Jersey is under a red flag warning.
Since last week, multiple fires have occurred in New York City and New Jersey amid dry weather and a record-breaking stretch of no rain.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The fire service will provide an update on Sunday, officials said.
This story comprises reporting from Dominique Jack and Katie Corrado.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
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