The battle against the Jennings Creek wildfire in Orange County, New York continues Sunday following voluntary evacuations in the town of Warwick.
Residents along Edgemere Avenue and in Wah-Ta-Wah Park were encouraged to evacuate Saturday night, affecting more than 160 houses. Greenwood Lake Middle School is being utilized as a shelter.
The voluntary evacuations were accomplished in a “safe and orderly fashion thanks to resident cooperation and expedient coordination led by Warwick and Greenwood Lake Police Departments,” Warwick Town Supervisor Jess Dwyer posted to Facebook Saturday.
According to the post, the evacuations were put in place to enable emergency apparatus and firefighters to be able to “operate uninterrupted while preventing any further spread of the wildfire.”
“While the fire breached a containment line,” it had only expanded by about four to five acres Saturday, New York State Parks Police posted to Facebook Saturday night. The fire had not reached the contingency line, “and no structures are in danger,” the post reads. “Firefighters are staged at the contingency line with hoses. They are also staged along Edgemere Avenue to extinguish any hot spots.”
State parks police, Greenwood Lake and Town of Warwick officials are expected to post an operations plan Sunday morning to social media. Read on for updates.
≽ Monitor the fire’s progress, wildfire smoke and more with our online tracker.
Of interest ‘Thank you for your bravery’: Greenwood Lake kids praise crews battling wildfire
FEMA OKs Fire Management Assistant Grants for Jennings Creek fire
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized a request for funding Friday morning.
FEMA Region 2 Administrator David Warrington approved the request from New York state, which allows for FEMA funding to pay for 75% of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling the Jennings Creek fire.
According to a FEMA news release, the funding, made available via Fire Management Assistant Grants (FMAGs), is provided through the Disaster Relief Fund.
The FMAGs can be used to pay for field camps, equipment and supplies, mobilization activities and more. The grants do not provide assistance to individual homes or businesses, and “do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.”
Weather forecast provides no immediate relief for drought conditions
As containment efforts continue in the fight against the Jennings Creek fire, the weather forecast points to continuing dry conditions in the Lower Hudson Valley. The coming days are expected to be mild and windy, with virtually no chance of rain predicted in the next week.
At a Tuesday news conference addressing ongoing efforts to battle the Jennings Creek wildfire in New York and New Jersey, Gov. Kathy Hochul said 2024 saw one of the driest months on record in the Empire State.
The Hudson Valley has been under a level 2 drought watch by the NYSDEC and a red flag wildfire watch by the National Weather Service. The level 2 designation points to a severe drought.
Hochul placed the entire state under a temporary burn ban Tuesday due to the ongoing dry conditions, which raises the risk of wildfires. She encouraged New Yorkers to conserve water.
The statewide burn ban prohibits outdoor burning of any kind.
“Do not leave campfires (unattended),” Hochul said. “Exercise extreme caution with outdoor grills.”
More: These maintenance tips can help keep your home safe during wildfire season
What the NYSDEC says you can do to conserve water
The state DEC provided these tips on conserving water at home:
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Water lawns only when necessary, choosing watering methods that avoid waste and watering early in the morning to reduce evaporation and maximize hydration.
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Opt to reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water your plants.
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Raise cutting heights on your lawn mower as longer grass is healthier, meaning it has stronger roots and requires less water.
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Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway and sidewalk.
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Fix any leaking pipes, hoses and faucets in your home.
Contributing: USA TODAY Network New York reporter Emily Barnes.
(This story may update.)
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Battle against Jennings Creek wildfire in Orange County NY continues
