Dariel Vasquez died when tree fell on him as he battled major brush fire along the New York-New Jersey border
A New York parks employee died battling one of a number of wildfires in New Jersey and New York amid dry conditions that have prompted air quality warnings in both states, authorities said on Sunday.
The Eastern Dutchess county fire and rescue said the New York state forestry service reported that the worker died when a tree fell on him Saturday afternoon as he battled a major brush fire along the New York-New Jersey border, officials said.
“Rip brother your shift is over job well done,” the post said.
New York state police said they were investigating the death amid the fire in Sterling Forest located in Greenwood Lake and identified the victim as Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old parks and recreation aide employed by the New York state parks, recreation, and historic preservation department.
