Posted on 11/10/2024 4:21:30 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Greenwood Lake, NY – A Park Ranger tragically lost his life in the line of duty on Saturday, while battling a raging fire in Greenwood Lake alongside his colleagues. The fire is one of several that are being battled by Fire Departments and NY agencies across the Hudson Valley.
Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old Parks and Recreation Aid employed by the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department, died Saturday, November 9, while assisting in the fight against the Jennings Creek wildfire in Sterling Forest, located near Greenwood Lake. The fire, which has rapidly escalated due to drought conditions and is now one of several active wildfires in the region, has consumed approximately 2,000 acres along the New York/New Jersey border. Vasquez’s death underscores the serious dangers faced by fire personnel in this hazardous environment, with the incident sparking an outpouring of grief from both his family, the firefighting community and residents in the area – many who expressed their condolences to a relative of the young man via Facebook community groups.
Vasquez was reportedly working alongside state and local firefighters when a tree fell on him during the containment efforts. Despite immediate CPR administered by two New York State Forest Rangers, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries after being airlifted to a nearby hospital. His relative, expressing the family’s grief on social media, described Vasquez as a “family HERO” and requested information from anyone who had been with Vasquez in those final moments, hoping to gain closure about his last hours.
The New York State Police are currently investigating the incident, with spokesperson Steven Nevel stating that details surrounding Vasquez’s death remain under review. Colonel Robert Cavanagh, Acting Director of the New York State DEC Division of Forest Protection, extended his condolences to Vasquez’s family and colleagues in an internal email, writing, “There are no words that can express our feelings of loss. We will do everything we can to assist this individual’s family.”
The Jennings Creek wildfire is part of a wave of fires sweeping through the New York and New Jersey region, where prolonged drought has created exceptionally dry conditions. These conditions prompted a “Red Flag” warning across several counties, indicating the likelihood of rapid fire spread due to high winds, low humidity, and abundant dry fuel sources.
More at link...
Until recently, it’s been very dry here in Wisconsin too. I was worried that some enraged lunatic would set fires here around election time.
SW WI has gotten some much needed rain this past week. Beau does a LOT of field/pasture burning this time of year, and he’s behind schedule due to it being so dry.
Hoping any FReepers in NY or NJ can give us more info on the fires.
What caused these fires? In Oregon, BLM and Antifa start arson fires in areas that are predominantly Trump voters. Northern Ca too. It’s happened numerous times when unhinged democrats are unhappy about elections.
So young. This is heartbreaking. RIP young man, and thank you for your heroic sacrifice. Prayers for his grieving family and friends, and for all endangered by these fires.
It’s very dry here in NH as well. We have a pond on our property that is almost dried up completely.
The streams and rivers around here are low as well, basically puddles in the stream bed or river bed.
I’m sure people’s wells are running dry, too.
I’m praying for rain here.
Geez I had family in Greenwood Lake for years. Can’t ever recall a threat of wildfires. RIP.
I believed the story about a whistleblower who said someone told people not to help people in areas of the flooding who had Trump signs in their yards. During the fires in Oregon, the fire fighters took their time getting to the fires. They didn’t even go to some areas. Whole towns burned along with lumber mills,etc.
They were all areas with Trump voters in 2016.
The dem governor did nothing for several days- waited to declare a state of emergency.
Yep. It’s a sad state of affairs when our ‘elected leaders’ fail to remember that they represent ALL of us, not one party over the other.
Wish there was some way to punish those ‘in TEMPORARY power’ that act that way...but the last thing we need are more laws on the books to be ignored. :(
Wildfires and mass shootings
I wonder the cause of the fires and how long they’ve been burning. I’m glad we got some rain this week. Just in time.
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