Red flag warnings have been issued across the northeastern United States due to dry and windy conditions, triggering wildfires in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Meanwhile, firefighters in California continue to battle a large wildfire that has already consumed over 20,000 acres.
The National Weather Service in Boston has issued the same warnings for Massachusetts and Rhode Island, urging people to avoid outdoor burning and activities that may produce sparks. The warnings come as a historic drought continues to grip much of the Northeast. In New Jersey, three counties are suffering from “extreme” drought, and the rest of the state is experiencing severe or moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Firefighters in New Jersey and New York are battling a wildfire in Passaic and Orange counties, dubbed the Jennings Creek Wildfire. The fire has grown to 3,500 acres and was 20% contained as of Tuesday morning. Two residential structures in New Jersey are threatened by the fire, the cause of which remains under investigation.
In Massachusetts, more than a dozen brush fires are burning. Dave Celino, chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, reported that for the month of November, there have been 247 fires across the state, burning almost 700 acres.
On the other side of the country, the Mountain Fire continues to burn in Ventura County, California. The blaze, which started on November 6, has grown to 20,630 acres and is 48% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). At least 200 structures have been destroyed, and there have been six confirmed fire personnel and civilian injuries.
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