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The Jennings Creek Wildfire, which has scorched 2,283 acres across Passaic County, NJ, and Orange County, NY, was 90% contained Friday, Nov. 15, a week after it broke out, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Residents in Bergen County, from Oakland to Fort Lee, reported smoke drifting from the wildfire (is smoke in your town? see the Daily Voice Instagram story to report where you live).
A smoke map from AirNow.Gov shows the Air Quality Index (AQI) across the region. It appears that towns southeast of the fire had the worst AQIs as of 2:30 p.m.
Ridgewood's AQI was by far the worst, with an AQI of 152, which is considered unhealthy. The rest had AQIs between 50 and 100, which is considered moderate.
The wildfire initially threatened 10 structures in New Jersey, including the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District, but no evacuations were necessary, and no buildings were damaged.
Roads affected by the fire, such as East Shore Road and Beech Road, will reopen Saturday morning, while trails in Long Pond Ironworks State Park, Tranquility Ridge, and the Ringwood Manor section of Ringwood State Park remain closed.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Managed under unified command by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, this will be the final update unless significant developments occur.
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