**New York Parks Employee Dies Battling Wildfires Amidst Hazardous Conditions**

POMPTON LAKES, N.J. (AP) - Amidst a surge of wildfires across New Jersey and New York, a tragic incident occurred where a New York parks employee lost his life. The worker, identified as 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, was crushed by a falling tree while fighting a significant brush fire on the New York-New Jersey border, according to reports from the Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue and the New York state forestry services.

The incident took place on Saturday afternoon as Vasquez, a Parks and Recreation aide from the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department, was aiding in fire line construction in Sterling Forest near Greenwood Lake. New York State Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.

"Wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous profession, and despite numerous safety precautions, accidents can sometimes occur," stated Jeremy Oldroyd, a forest ranger with the New York State Department of Environmental Protection. Oldroyd emphasized the perilous nature of Vasquez’s duties at the time of his death. The New York State forestry services paid tribute to Vasquez with a heartfelt message: "Rip brother your shift is over job well done."

The ongoing wildfires have affected both New York and New Jersey, with one major blaze, labeled the Jennings Creek wildfire, spreading across 3.9 square miles. This fire, located near the border in Passaic County's West Milford and Orange County, New York, has endangered 14 structures in Greenwood Lake, two New Jersey homes, and eight historic buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District. Despite the severity, officials have not deemed evacuations necessary in either state as of Saturday afternoon.

These fires have led to air quality warnings in parts of New York, including New York City, as well as northeastern New Jersey. Health advisories recommend limiting strenuous outdoor activity, particularly for vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma and heart conditions.

In other parts of Passaic County, particularly the Pompton Lakes area, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Forest Fire Service reported that they had contained 75 percent of a 175-acre fire. This blaze posed a threat to 55 homes but did not necessitate any evacuations.

As firefighting efforts continue, the tragic loss of Vasquez underscores the immense risks faced by those combating these devastating wildfires.