Wildfires Rage Near Rockland County

By Idy Perl

The lack of rain in New York over the last month has caused extremely dry conditions that increased the risk for fires. As reported by Rockland Daily, there have been brush fires on Rock Hill Road and in Nanuet and Bardonia in the last week, in addition to several more that cropped up in New York City and along the New Jersey border. 

Over the weekend a large wildfire started in Greenwood Lake and has already burned almost 3,000 acres. Several fire departments from Rockland County and surrounding areas were dispatched to help fight the fire as it blew into New Jersey. A number of residents in the vicinity of the fire have been asked to evacuate their home as a safety precaution.

One 18-year-old NYS Parks and Recreation employee, Dariel Vasquez from Rockland County, has died from a tree that collapsed on him while he was fighting the wildfire. Vasquez was a recent graduate from Ramapo High School and was slated to start college in January. Fire officials from New York and New Jersey, as well as Governor Hochul, have expressed their condolences to his family.