Residents in New Jersey woke up to another day of smoky air and a burning scent as the Jennings Creek blaze in Passaic County continued to be battled by teams. The poor air conditions were expected to shift over New York City due to high winds. As of Friday morning, the brush fire was 75% contained, and the air quality index in the eastern half of New Jersey was listed as “poor.” The smoky air conditions could extend over the water and potentially affect New York City later in the day.
The air quality in New York City was reported to be between “good” and “moderate” in the morning. However, conditions could worsen if the smoke from the New Jersey fire moved closer to the city. The wind direction was predicted to shift more towards New York City, potentially impacting air quality. The poor air conditions were expected to persist through the weekend, creating a haze-covered fall weekend in the region. The risk of brush fires remained active throughout the tri-state area due to drought and winds.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service estimated that the Jennings Creek fire would burn up to 5,000 acres once fully contained. By mid-week, nearly 2,300 acres had already burned in New Jersey, with additional brush fire outbreaks in New York City. Firefighters were also dealing with fires in Prospect Park and Inwood. A 14-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly starting one of the fires in New Jersey that destroyed 52 acres. Over 20 million people in the northeast were under threat from fires due to the drought and windy conditions.
FOX Weather meteorologist production assistant Joseph Davis warned that the smoky air and fire smell were likely to linger in New Jersey and potentially affect air quality in New York City. The poor air conditions were expected to last through the weekend, creating hazy skies in the region. The elevated fire risk in the tri-state area was attributed to the dry conditions and high winds. The smoky conditions extended over the water and could be impacted by the wind direction, affecting air quality in different areas.
Residents across New Jersey were advised to be cautious of the poor air quality and smoky conditions due to the ongoing brush fires. The Jennings Creek blaze was 75% contained, but the impact on air quality was expected to persist. The risk of fires remained active in the tri-state area, with over 20 million people under threat. Firefighters continued to battle the fires in New Jersey and New York City, including incidents involving arrests of individuals starting fires deliberately. The weekend was expected to be hazy due to the smoky air conditions and poor air quality.
