No tee times today: 35-acre fire shuts down Lakewood Country Club 

Truck fire ignites brush off New Jersey Turnpike in Edison

Officials: Lakewood fire 50% contained, 35 acres burned

Officials: Torrington brush fire damages home

Hainesport wildfire burns 40 acres, 20% contained

Officials: Wildfire near Lakewood Country Club burns 33 acres of land

newyork

Lisa LaRocca

WC1119lisa830_2024-11-19-08-45-29

Grows in Orange County are closing in on full containment of the Greenwood Lake brush fire. Hi everyone, I'm Tara Joyce, and I'm Lisa Salvatorini. Right now that fire is about 90% contained. We begin our Team 12 coverage with Lisa LaRocca talking about the current situation and why yesterday was so key in this firefight, Lisa. Yeah, they really gained some ground yesterday and that's pretty much the game plan again 90% contained. uh, that's huge, so we're getting there. They're getting there. Let me introduce you to Orange County's commissioner of Emergency Services. Long 11 days for you. Yeah, long 11 days. The crews have been working 24/7 trying to contain this fire. Yesterday we made some really good progress, uh, 90% containment. Uh, over 5300 acres have burned, um, over 3000 in New York. However, we're finally at a stage where we feel like the containment line is, is being established, uh, is being staffed, patrolled, and really the goal here is to make sure that the fire doesn't cross that line, right, so that we can keep that 90% containment intact, um, and then the the crews are going out today we're doing bucket drops with the, uh, the Chinooks they're up there now operating. that the goal is for them to hit it early in the morning, get the water saturated, and really create that barrier between the the perimeter line and an inward towards the fire, separate the fire, you know, further away from the line. I mean, no, no homes lost, uh, throughout this whole thing and no homes in danger as of right now. The the primary goal right is life followed by property and and that's been one of our. Focuses all along protect the homes structure protection was was paramount to this operation and and we understand the importance behind that uh you know nobody wants to go and I, I, we get it the community is is really terrified by this. Every time these voluntary evacuations are put in place, I, I completely understand. I see their frustration I see their concerns and uh they know they have to pack everything up and and leave the house, not knowing whether or not they come back to a house that's still gonna be there. It hasn't been easy, that's for sure, but, but we're getting close. We see light at the end of the tunnel. We're, we're hoping today another good push, uh, put out the hot spots, get the patrols in there, mix up the ground so that we can uh put water on it anywhere those, you know, where the hot spots are, and then, uh, hopefully by the end of the day, uh, 6 o'clock we'll get the, the report and how everything went today, maintain those lines, and then we have light with the uh the, the, uh, weather coming up with the rain. And we really need it. I mean, the fact that we've gone this long without rain is incredible in and of itself, but to do it in the middle of a wildfire is a whole another animal. Absolutely. So, uh, and we're going to check in right now with Christy. Christie says rain is on the way. When is it getting here? Can't get here soon enough. Yeah, Lisa, definitely not soon enough. And the thing is we have to keep in mind that the next few days are still going to be dry before that rain comes, but that's good. News that we do have that wet weather on our way right now. Current conditions, we've got wind coming from the north-northwest at 5 to 10 miles an hour. That's calm right now. We can see gusts maybe up to 15 miles an hour, but for today it's really low. But that doesn't mean that fire isn't still a risk. So fire weather is still a risk because we remain so dry, but we are going to see rain for Thursday. So that's good news here. Our wind gusts aren't too much, just switching direction. So conserve water where you can. I'll have more details and your hyperlocal 10 day forecast.

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WC1119lisa8_2024-11-19-08-45-55

In Orange County are closing in on full containment of the Greenwood Lake Brush fire. Good morning. I'm Tara Joyce and I'm Lisa Salvarini. Right now we're told that fire is about 90% contained, so movement in the right direction. Let's begin our Team 12 coverage with News Twelve's Lisa LaRocca in that community for us today, Lisa. Yeah, Lisa, definitely moving in the right direction. I can hear the choppers. They're off in the distance. They're getting already a start on the day dumping the water up on the mountain. We have Orange County's fire coordinator with us. Good night, good day yesterday and overnight as well. Yeah, we had a pretty good day. We made some progress. We were able to increase the containment level from 88% to 90%. Uh, we were concerned with the wind and dry conditions yesterday, but, uh, they didn't prove to be, uh, any problems with that, so we made good progress. Uh, schools are back in today. And most of the evacuations are complete. We have one area that we have voluntary evacuations, but hopefully we'll be able to reassess that today. Yeah, yeah, so kind of more of the same today since yesterday was so successful. I mean wind not so bad, kicking up a little here and there, but right, it's still dry but a little less wind and same plan. We still have the resources, multiple fire departments with our forestry group that are going to be working, doing handwork in the fire, and we'll continue to work it. How much are you looking forward to rain that's coming on Thursday? I guessing I can't get here soon enough. No, no, we're counting down the hours, but. And depending what we get, it's not going to completely extinguish the fire, but anything will help and it'll help slow down the spread. So for sure we're looking forward to it and the fact that you've been able to hold the fire line and still no homes are in danger as of right now and still none have been lost, which is incredible. Yeah, we've been able to prevent any, any uh property damage, so it's all we've been able to hold the line and looking forward to continuing to do so. Yeah, so how many guys will be out there today? So I, I would expect about 130 firefighters, and then plus we have law enforcement and EMS assisting as well, but about 130 from throughout the state with our forestry rangers and the Montana and Colorado teams as well. Yeah, yeah, how big a help have they been? I mean this is, this is all they do like, you know, you guys, you deal with with building fires and they don't. This is, this is all they do, right. have a lot more experience in this and they've been great. They really know this and the terrain here. It's very rough, but compared to some of the things that they've dealt with, it's probably a cakewalk for them. Sure, sure. It never hurts to have some hot shots around, right? All right, Vinny, thank you so much. So as you heard, they are counting down the hours, the minutes, the seconds for that rain to come. Christy, when is it going to get here? Yeah, Lisa, not just yet, but Thursday this. We're looking at rainfall, so we need to keep in mind that the next 2 days, today and tomorrow are still going to be dry. Although the winds are not as strong. We still have to keep in mind that fire weather is still a risk. We've got winds coming from the north northwest. It's calm at 5 to 10 miles an hour. Gusts can be up to possibly 15 miles an hour, so really not as strong as it's been. Fire is still a risk, but we're going to see that wet weather on Thursday. Thankfully. The gusts really aren't an effect here, just a change in direction of those winds before the wet weather gets here. I'll have those details coming up.

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WC1119lisa7_2024-11-19-07-56-07

Also, crews continue to fight a wildfire in Orange County. We're live in Greenwood Lake again this morning with the very latest. Dry conditions continue, but wet weather is on the way. I'll have those details coming up. Crews in Orange County are closing in on full containment of the Greenwood Lake brush fire. Hi everyone, I'm Tara Joyce, and I'm Lisa Salvatorini. Right now that fire is about 90% contained. News Twelve's Lisa LaRocca is live to talk about the current situation and why yesterday was so key. Lisa, good morning. Yeah, good morning to you guys. Good morning, everyone. and last week at this time I think we're at about 30% contained. I have the Greenwood Lakes Mayor, right? We're about 30% at this time last year and now we're at 90%, so that is, uh, that's clearly, you know, big progress being made, very, very big progress, uh, and necessary. We, uh, we couldn't, couldn't go on too much longer the way it was. So kudos to the all the firefighters, the Green Lake firefighters. Their leadership is second to none, and we're in good hands. I'm, I'm very comfortable. Yeah, so you know we've seen a lot of the vehicles and the guys coming in and kind of getting ready for the day, the crew that was out overnight switching out. So what are the plans right now for the day? I mean they're getting ready for that? Yes, we have an operational briefing at 8 o'clock. I'll have a little more than. On specifics, but I believe the way it was explained to me yesterday that today is gonna be a lot like yesterday. Winds are in our favor. They can do a lot of work up there as far as, uh, mopping up, cleaning up, maintain, maintaining it. And patrolling looking for fire. The fire is in the ground a lot and they, and they have to, you know, just walk that line and look for it. Yeah, I know the, the helicopters are already flying, but just before they came to us, we were talking about this, and you said these guys will go up and they'll kind of just hold their hand down to the ground and feel and then turn the ground over. It's just a whole different way of fighting fires. Exactly, it's completely opposite of what a house fire is, as I'm told, um. So that's why you're gonna see you'll still see smoke because everything up there is still smoldering, um, and then when they drop water on it, you know, that causes more smoke. So I don't think you're gonna have the intense smoke that we've had, but you'll still see, you'll still smell it like we do right now. And it's great that, uh, schools are reopened today. No after school activities, but schools are back. That's correct. Uh, schools are up and running for the remainder of the week. I believe she, uh, the superintendent put out no after school activities for this week. But you know that will be reevaluated for next week and then we go right into the Thanksgiving holiday. OK. All right, very good. We'll have you stick around and in the meantime though, rain on the way, uh, Christy, that is certainly good news. Yes. Yeah, Lisa, we really need this wet weather, but we still have to keep in mind that it is dry over the next few days or so and although the winds aren't as strong, it still is a fire risk for us, so we've got. North northwest wind around 5 to 10 miles an hour to calm wind. We could see gusts up to maybe 15, but really remaining calm through the day, but it's still a fire risk. But we are going to see some much needed rainfall in the forecast a little bit later this week. Our winds for Greenwood Lake, our gusts really aren't too much. We could see possibly up to 15 miles an hour, but really we remain calm here. Fire weather is still a risk. Conserve water where you can. We'll have some more details in your hyperlocal 10 day forecast coming up.

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WC1119lisa730_2024-11-19-07-56-35

is back open for some students in Orange County, and those evacuated from their homes are returning. We're going to have an update on the wildfire in Greenwood Lake. Dry conditions continue, but much needed rainfall is on the way. I'll have those details coming up. Crews in Orange County are closing in on full containment of the Greenwood Lake brush fire. Hi everyone, I'm Tara Joyce, and I'm Lisa Salvatorini. Right now we're told that fire is about 90% contained, so let's get right to News Twelve's Lisa Laraca continuing our Team 12 coverage this morning. Lisa. Yeah, certainly making progress, that's for sure, and, and you know it's, uh, it's been a rough about 11 days at this point we have Greenwood Lake's Mayor, not, not been an easy time here, but we're getting there. We are, um, it's been slow, it's been arduous, um, but I, I think we see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't like to jinx things, but, um. I, I truly feel that they have a grip on everything now. Yeah, 90% contained, which is, you know, so far ahead of where we were last week at this time. The guys all inside kind of putting the battle plan together for today. Exactly. They have an 8 o'clock, uh, tactical plan and get their assignments. They get they get right out there and and start this thing. I said today's gonna be a lot of mop up, clean up, patrol, checking on things. You know, there's no they're not scheduled to have any kind of burns, so that's good, but they will be looking, looking for small pockets of fire, so you will see smoke, and that was, you know, when we talked about that they were actually setting fires, fighting fire with fire. We see that the uh the helicopters are already flying again bright and early this morning too. Yes, the reason for that is they want. Obviously they want to get a lot of water on this thing and you want to do it before all the personnel is up there. You don't wanna be, you don't wanna be dropping water on a bunch of firemen, so that's when they start early. I'm sorry. And, uh, we just saw a school bus go by, so schools are maybe the kids aren't happy about it, but after, after a nice 3 day break, but that's good to get things rolling again. Obviously that's the, that's a critical point. It, it brings some sort of normalcy back, you know, to the situation and obviously it helps the parents. I mean, parents have to go to work. If the schools are closed, they have to make other arrangements so I think it gets their lives back to normal also, of course, and, and part of the reason that the schools were closed were just to the school buses getting around. You had a lot of road closures and those are starting to open up as well. Correct, uh, I expect Edgemeary Avenue, uh, could be open as we speak. Um, the, the chief of the police of Warwick and of Greenwood Lake are out there assessing it. And um I think it's gonna be open very, very soon. Good news all around now we just need the weather to cooperate, right? So we're gonna check in with Christie, but there, there's rain coming, so uh there's hopefully that's gonna be, that's gonna help. Yes, Lisa, and the good news is it'll provide us some temporary relief, but the thing is we still have to keep in mind that the next few days or so are still. Going to be dry. We still have this wind around, but it's not as much as it was. So the good news here is that it will be less, but we still have to keep in mind that fire weather is still a risk. We've got a north northwest wind around 5 to 10 miles an hour. That's considered calm. Gusts can be up to 15 miles an hour, but the real good news here is that we've got rain heading our way, much needed wet weather for Thursday, and the gusts won't be super strong through today, changing direction a little later. We remain dry, conserve water where you can, and I'll have some more details coming up.

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News 12’s Lisa LaRocca reports that schools are reopened today after a three-day closure, although after-school activities remain canceled.

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Wildfire Update: 90% containment reached, schools reopened

News 12’s Lisa LaRocca reports that schools are reopened today after a three-day closure, although after-school activities remain canceled.

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