HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. — A funeral for the 18-year-old New York State Parks aide who died fighting the Jennings Creek wildfire is being held Monday.
Dariel Vasquez was killed by a falling tree in the early days of the fire near the New Jersey border. His funeral is being held at St. Peter’s Church in Haverstraw.
Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered flags at state buildings to be flown at half-staff Monday to honor Vasquez.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Vasquez family as they mourn the sudden and tragic loss of Dariel,” Hochul said in a statement. “Dariel was only 18 years old and had a truly bright future ahead of him that has now been unfairly taken away. I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers and his bravery on the front lines.”
The Jennings Creek wildfire has now been burning for 11 days. Some Orange County residents were asked to voluntarily evacuate their homes after the fire jumped a containment line Saturday.