An 18-year-old New York State Parks employee, Dariel Vasquez, tragically lost his life on Saturday while fighting a wildfire in Sterling Forest, Orange County. Vasquez, an aide with the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department, was helping to contain the blaze when he was killed. State police are currently investigating the incident.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her sorrow, stating, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of one of our New York State Parks employees while responding to a wildfire in Orange County yesterday. My prayers go out to his family, friends, and coworkers during this difficult time.”
As wildfires continued to spread across the Northeast, over 11 million people remained under fire alerts Sunday evening. Conditions remained warm and dry, though forecasters predicted light rain would provide some relief overnight in regions including New York City, the Lower Hudson Valley, and the New York-New Jersey Highlands.
Since October 1, New York State has seen 60 wildfires, burning over 2,100 acres. Jeremy Oldroyd, a state forest ranger, reported that multiple fires were still active in Orange County, with County Executive Steve Neuhaus speaking against a backdrop of towering flames late Sunday afternoon.
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