Ramapo campus became engulfed in a smoky haze this past Saturday as a brush fire erupted in Pompton Lakes, N.J., an effect of the state’s drought and unusually warm weather.
The fire started near Cannonball Road and has been named the “Cannonball 3” fire. It was first reported last Friday night, closing Cannonball Road and a portion of Route 287.
By mid-day Saturday, the fire had burned through 100 acres and threatened 55 structures. The fire was 50% contained by the afternoon; however, surrounding areas were issued an air quality alert from the National Weather Service. Many were advised to stay inside, to keep their windows closed and to wear masks when outdoors.
“I live about 10 minutes away from where the fire was…” said Ramapo senior elementary and special education major Heather Gallagher who is a resident of Pompton Lakes. “I also suffer from asthma so there were days when I could not leave my house because I could not breathe.”
The fire has been 100% contained, however, it is still burning approximately 20 minutes from campus. An update from Nov. 9 posted on the Oakland, N.J. website states that the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service will stay at the scene over the next several days to ensure safety. The blaze originated on the property of the former Dupont-Chemours worksite, a chemical factory.
Members of the Ramapo College community driving south on Ramapo Valley Road on Monday and Tuesday would have still noticed the hazy smoke in the air. It finally rained in the New York-New Jersey area on Monday, officials say it wasn’t enough to offer a reprieve from the state’s bone-dry conditions.
“The sound of sirens has been constant and the smell of smoke hung in the air for days,” said social work masters student Delina Kica who is also a Pompton Lakes resident. “It’s scary not knowing what comes next… I’m no expert when it comes to climate issues, but events like this definitely make it seem like something’s definitely not right.”
Another fire burning close to Ramapo is on the New York-New Jersey border in Passaic County. The fire, named the “Jennings Creek Wildfire,” also caught on Friday and continues to grow.
The Jennings Creek Wildfire took the life of an 18-year-old New York State Parks worker trying to stop the blaze this past weekend when a tree fell on him.
According to The New Jersey Forest Fire Service on X (formerly known as Twitter), the fire has burned nearly 2,300 acres of land and is only 30% contained.
As of Wednesday at 10 a.m., there are eight wildfires burning in New Jersey. Overall, New Jersey fire officials have responded to more than 500 fires since the start of this October, one of our driest months on record. This is more than 10 times the amount of wildfires the state has seen in previous years.
No evacuations have been ordered, however, a Red Flag Warning has been issued in New Jersey warning against recreational fires and controlled burns.
jhammer@ramapo.edu
Featured photo submitted by Nitin Shukla
