Wildfires on the East Coast are becoming increasingly common. New Jersey fire officials have responded to 537 wildfires since early October. That's roughly 500 more than last fall. The fires are thought to be worsened by long droughts and climate change.  The rising global temperature has helped these wildfires become this destructive, with little rainfall to aid the firefighters. 2002 was the last time New Jersey had this extreme of a drought. Many animals injured from the fires in New Jersey are being taken care of in wildlife refuges such as a groundhog dubbed “Extra Crispy Potato” who has severe burns.

States all along the East Coast are being affected by these conditions. In New York, the Jennings Creek wildfire burned 5,304 acres of land. The fire claimed the life of an eighteen-year-old New York state park worker named Dariel Vasquez when an unstable tree fell on him. Around eight other firefighters have been killed by these fires this fall. These wildfires are contained by pumping water or fire retardant on the ground or dropping it from a plane or helicopter. 

There have also been several wildfires in Massachusetts recently. The largest of these fires in Massachusetts burned 1,388 acres very close to the Butternut ski resort. After a long day of fighting the flames in Great Barrington, children rewarded Massachusetts firefighters with hand-drawn cards. “Kids flooded our station with cards, drawings, and letters — makes this job worth it.” said a firefighter according to The Berkshire Eagle. As the East Coast continues to fight devastating wildfires, communities and firefighters alike are coming together to support each other and fight the flames.