Drought and Wildfire Warnings
Governor declared a drought warning, urging voluntary water conservation as the state faces the driest conditions in nearly 120 years, contributing to a surge in wildfires.
Across the U.S., October was one of the driest months on record, with over half of the experiencing some level of drought, fueling wildfires from the to .
Response and Consequences
Firefighting efforts include Black Hawk helicopters dropping water on fires in New York and New Jersey, with significant resources deployed to contain a 5,000-acre wildfire on the NY-NJ border.
Criminal charges have been filed against individuals in New Jersey and on for intentionally setting fires, amid a backdrop of record brush fires and a tragic death of a firefighter in the Northeast.