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2024 Northeastern United States wildfires

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2024 Northeastern United States wildfires
Statistics
Total fires400+[1][a]
Burned area7,700+ acres
Impacts
Deaths2

The 2024 Northeast wildfires were a series of destructive wildfires in the Northeastern United States in the autumn of 2024. Many of these wildfires were caused and worsened by the ongoing drought in the region.

Background

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Drought in the Northeast began to form following a dry autumn in 2024. September 2024 was the driest on record at Islip, New York and Wilmington, Delaware, with numerous other sites recording a top-10 dry September across the region.[2] Drought significantly expanded in the Northeast following a record-dry October, which in many places, was also the driest month on record. Philadelphia reached a record long rainless streak during this time.[3] High temperatures in the Northeast further worsened drought conditions, with much of New England reaching a record high temperature on November 6.[4] By November 7, over half of the New York metropolitan area was in moderate drought, with three-quarters of New Jersey in severe drought. Extreme drought had also affected portions of New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania.[5] These extremely dry conditions allowed for fires to form and spread across the Northeast.[6]

Summary and impacts

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While wildfires in the Northeast began as early as July 5, the record dryness of September and October allowed them to significantly expand. From October 1 to November 11, over 537 reports of wildfires were received in New Jersey, with 60 in New York, burning 4500 and 2100 acres, respectively.[7] Across the state of Connecticut in late October, 70 wildfires were reported.[8] One such fire, the Hawthorne Fire, resulted in a firefighter being killed on October 22, with two others being injured.[9] By November 1, a statewide burn ban was issued in Maryland.[10]

Firefighters put out a brush fire in Highbridge Park, Manhattan

Following multiple wildfires in Prospect Park, mayor Eric Adams banned all grilling in New York City on November 9.[11] That weekend, the Jackson Creek wildfire expanded into Orange County, New York and an 18-year old firefighter was killed trying to put out the fire. The wildfire also led to businesses and roads being closed.[12] The wildfires also led to poor air quality across the region, with the air quality index reaching 201 in New York City late on November 9.[13] While light rain fell in New Jersey from November 10 to 11th, including up to 0.23 in (5.8 mm) in Trenton and 0.19 in (4.8 mm) in Newark, the rain failed to provide much relief for the wildfires.[14][15] New York City suffered a record number of wildfires from October 29 to November 12.[16] Amtrak service was suspended for 24 hours on November 12-13 between Penn Station and New Haven, Connecticut due to brush fires.[17]

By November 18, many wildfires in the Northeast were beginning to be contained, with the Jennings Creek Fire reaching 90% containment. However, to facilitate in containment, a voluntary evacuation order was issued for Warwick, New York.[18] On November 19, the Great Barrington Fire formed in Massachusetts, and by November 20, the fire grew to 1100 acres.[19] However, on November 21, significant rain and snow significantly reduced the fire threat,[20] with many locations across New York, Connecticut and New Jersey receiving over 2 in (51 mm) of rain, and with snowfall accumulations up to 20 in (51 cm) in High Point, New Jersey.[21]

Notes

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  1. ^ Only includes New Jersey wildfires

References

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  1. ^ Alsharif, Mirna; Rapp, Christine; Cohen, Rebecca (November 9, 2024). "Wildfires rage across the Northeast amid warm, dry conditions". NBC News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  2. ^ "Record Dryness in September". Northeast Regional Climate Center. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Thiem, Haley; Borisoff, Samantha (November 7, 2024). "Drought expands in the East following exceptionally dry October". NOAA Climate.gov. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Brown, Dominic (November 6, 2024). "Boston, Worcester set record high temps, fueling brush fire concerns". NBC10 Boston. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Nolan, Nikki (November 9, 2024). "Maps show drought and fire conditions in Northeast states". CBS News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Chow, Denise (November 7, 2024). "Drought plagues majority of Northeast as dry, windy weather raises fire risk". NBC News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Smith, Patrick; Bush, Evan (November 11, 2024). "Historic drought fuels blazes across Northeast as wildfires burn on both coasts". NBC News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Spiegel, Jan Ellen (October 31, 2024). "Berlin fire one of 70 wildfires in unusually dry CT. What's going on?". CT Mirror. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "2 firefighters injured as Hawthorne Fire continues for an eighth day". NBC Connecticut. October 28, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "Maryland Department of Natural Resources Enacts Statewide Burn Ban". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Seiwell, Emma; White, Rebecca; Tracy, Thomas (November 10, 2024). "Second brush fire in Brooklyn's Prospect Park snuffed out as mayor bans park grilling". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Bacon, John; Westhoven, William; Ortiz, Jorge L. (November 10, 2024). "'Climate change is real': New York parks employee killed as historic drought fuels blazes". USA Today. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Villafane, Matthew; DeLucia, Matthew (November 10, 2024). "Air quality alert issued in New York, New Jersey due to brush fire smoke". CBS News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Sosnowski, Alex (November 11, 2024). "Rain arrives but long term dryness, fire weather persist in Northeast". AccuWeather. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Speck, Emilee; Oberholtz, Chris (November 10, 2024). "Welcome rain moves into Northeast, mid-Atlantic after record-dry stretch". Fox Weather. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Bacon, John; Ortiz, Jorge L. (November 12, 2024). "'Treacherous conditions' in NYC: Firefighters battling record number of brush fires". USA Today. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Dodson, Braley (November 13, 2024). "Amtrak service between New Haven, Penn Station resumes". WTNH. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  18. ^ Lenthang, Marlene (November 18, 2024). "Over 150 homes evacuated as wildfire risk persists across historically dry Northeast". NBC News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Quinn, Emma (November 20, 2024). "Fire crews battle 1,100-acre wildfire in Great Barrington, no threat to structures". CBS 6 Albany. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Wallace, Amanda (November 22, 2024). "NJ received much-needed precipitation. Will rain and snow make a dent in the drought?". North Jersey.com. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "Snow, rain totals around New York, New Jersey and Connecticut". CBS News. November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
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