Wildfires are ravaging the Northeast with 27 million people under fire alert

Wind and moisture are helping fuel wildfires burning across the Northeast. As of Saturday afternoon, 27 million people from New York to Massachusetts are under fire alert.

Cities under fire warnings include New York City and Boston, where winds of up to 35 mph and relative humidity are expected to be around 25% to 30%.

The vegetation in the region also remains very dry; This part of the country has been behind on rainfall by about 6 to 8 inches since September 1. A cold front is expected to pass through the region on Sunday, bringing up to 1 inch of rain.

A brush fire broke out in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park from Friday to Saturday after nearly 2 acres of dry vegetation ignited due to high winds, the New York City Fire Department said. said in x. Fire crews worked throughout the night to extinguish the fire.

“This has been a historically dry spell for New York City, with more than 100 brush fires occurring this month alone,” the FDNY said.

Fire crews are trying to control the fire that broke out due to dry and windy weather in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The fire started at Neversink Mountain in Reading at around 23.30 on Friday, and smoke was seen rising from the fire.

The fire resulted in the evacuation of nearby residents to Amanda E. Stout Elementary School, according to Reading Mayor Eddie Morán.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Forestry division will lead the firefighting and cleanup operation, which is expected to last several days, and will coordinate any additional resources needed,” Morán said.

The 100-acre Cannonball 3 Wildfire continues to burn in Passaic County, New Jersey, with 0% containment, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. 55 buildings are under threat due to fire and the cause is being investigated.

Another 39-acre wildfire in Bergen County is 40% contained, according to the fire department.

Northern New Jersey is under a red flag warning until 6 p.m., which means the area is experiencing critical fire weather that “may contribute to extreme fire behavior,” according to the National Weather Service.

Active fires are raising concerns about air quality, especially in the New York City area.

On the West Coast, the Mountain Fire continues to burn in Ventura County, California, and has spread to more than 20,600 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The fire was 17% contained as of 7:25 a.m. PT and the cause is under investigation.

Sunny, dry weather is expected in the area on Saturday, with wind gusts up to 20 mph. Air quality advisories are in effect across Southern California due to wildfire smoke.