NJ Smoke is drifting across the region from a wildfire in West Milford

On By Littum

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The acrid smell of smoke wafted across the western North Jersey community Thursday and will continue into the evening as winds shift amid planned burns to control the Jennings Creek Wildfire near the New Jersey-New York border.

Residents of Sussex County, especially in areas to the north, may notice the acrid smoke spread over the region when light winds blow from the east, according to the National Weather Service. An interactive map on the weather forecast website Windy shows the wind shift in real time with future wind forecasts. While the pungent smell is undesirable, low winds and low temperatures are favorable for firefighters Thursday to burn more than 1,000 acres of New York’s Sterling Forest in a deliberate effort to bring the blaze under control, according to a statement from Jesse Dwyer, the city supervisor of Warwick, New York.

North Jersey residents near West Milford in Passaic County may notice heavy smoke as crews from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service assist New York crews, said Michele Dale, mayor of West Milford. in a Facebook post.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management are working together to bring the fire under control as thousands of acres of forest have burned since, with 2,283 acres in New Jersey alone, according to the latest update posted on Facebook by the NJ Forest Fire Service. The fire was 50% contained Wednesday evening, according to the fire department with Dwyer informs on Facebook Thursday afternoon the total containment was 40%.

Air quality levels reach ‘moderate’ levels

While winds are light, a high-pressure system is building, heralding northeasterly winds and cooler temperatures, bringing fines (fine particles) from the blaze across the region, according to AirNow, an interactive map operated under the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection.

Levels of fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke are increasing, the NJ DEP reported, with air quality levels at or expected to reach moderate levels Thursday afternoon and evening. The AirNow interactive map shows Montaguein northwestern Sussex County, with an air quality index (or AQI) of 59, which is acceptable, but those who are unusually sensitive to particulate pollution should consider going indoors or shortening their time outside. Levels are expected to reach 75 on Thursday. When levels reach above 100, the air quality is unhealthy for those with certain sensitivities.

Kinnelon Borough in Morris County either canceled outdoor recreation programs or moved them indoors Thursday night due to poor air quality.

The AQI for Friday is expected to be moderate.

Firefighters burning back to control the fire

Wildfire crews were “fighting fire with fire” as they conducted controlled burns to clear debris from around the fire line, which in turn has created more smoke and visible fire conditions, New York’s Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said said Thursday morning.

Neuhaus said the construction of fire lines — a break in vegetation down to soil or rock — has kept the wildfire within the confines of Sterling Forest State Park.

More heavy smoke is expected Friday as crews burn fuel sources — vegetation and debris — in part of the forest. Greenwood Lake Schools will remain closed on Friday.

Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH or on Facebook.