NEW JERSEY (WABC) — A ranger working with firefighters was killed in Passaic County, one of more than 40 wildfires burning in New Jersey alone on Saturday.

The Passaic Fire started burning in the afternoon near West Milford. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said that by 7:00 p.m., the flames had threatened nearly a dozen homes.

The fire then spread to New York at Greenwood Lake, a village in Orange County.

Then the fire became deadly. A tree fell on a state forest ranger working with the Plattekill Fire Department, according to the East Duchess County Fire and Ranger.

The ranger’s name has not been released.

The fire service says this fire is zero percent contained and has burned at least 2,000 acres. Next update is Sunday at 10:30am.

The NJ Forest Fire Service deployed engines, ground crews and a helicopter were deployed to aid relief efforts as the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“We ask that the public use common sense. We ask that they definitely not throw cigarette butts, any other smoking or burning material,” said Shawn Judy, assistant wildfire watcher for the NJ Forest Fire Service.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY FIRES

The weather conditions on Friday and Saturday were favorable for the occurrence of these types of fires. It is extremely dry, windy and there is low humidity. Red Flag warnings have expired as rain is expected on Sunday.

Stage 3 fire restrictions are in effect nationwide, which prohibit all fires unless contained within an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas, gas or electricity.

New Jersey hasn’t received measurable precipitation in more than a month, the weather service said, setting a new record.

Smoke from forest fires also affected air quality New York City, which was dealing with its own brush fires.

Air quality alerts remain in effect until Sunday.

OTHER FIRES

Palisades Interstate Parkway Wildfire

Another fire broke out along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Bergen County’s Englewood Cliffs, across the Hudson River from New York, near Rockefeller Lookout.

It was smaller than other fires burning in New Jersey, each of which had burned less than a square mile by late Thursday.

The 39-acre fire is 75 percent contained and no homes were threatened by it.

Henry Hudson Drive is currently closed as crews remain on scene to help extinguish the fire.

Fire in Burlington and Camden counties

Other fires are burning further south in New Jersey, including the Bethany Run Wildfire in Burlington and Camden counties, which has burned 360 acres.

The flames could be seen rising into the air on Thursday night, with thick plumes of smoke rising above.

The fire is 90% extinguished as of Friday evening. While 104 structures are threatened, none had been evacuated as of Friday afternoon.

Gloucester County Fire

The WildFeasant Run Fire is also burning in the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Gloucester County.

The fire was first spotted by the Blue Anchor Fire Tower on Thursday afternoon. As of Friday evening, the 133-acre fire is 75 percent contained.

There are currently no structures threatened and no roads affected.

The Jackson Township fire

And in Jackson Township in Ocean County, Shotgun Wildfire it burned 350 acres and is now 90 percent contained.

A Brick Township, New Jersey man has been charged with arson in connection with a fire in Jackson Township.

Police say 37-year-old Richard Shashaty started the fire Wednesday when he fired a gun, igniting the flames with the ammunition. He will also face weapons charges in addition to the arson charge.

Shashaty is currently in prison awaiting a hearing.

Joann Bertone lives near the fire in Jackson and described owners of livestock and horses scrambling to arrange trailers to transport them to safety.

“It was extremely scary,” she said. “I was up all night. It was disturbing.”

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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