18-year-old NY parks worker and HS baseball star dies after fighting wildfire that started in NJ
An 18-year-old New York state parks worker and high-school baseball star died fighting a large wildfire in Orange County over the weekend, officials said.
Dariel Vasquez was killed while battling a massive 2,000-acre forest fire in Sterling Forest, not far from the New Jersey border, on Saturday, authorities announced.
State Police said the teen worked as an aide employed by the state Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department.
Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue wrote in a Facebook post that a tree fell on the teen and killed him.
“Orange County Emergency Services wishes to extend our condolences as we mourn the passing of a dedicated service member we lost today during the Greenwood Lake brush fire response,” the agency said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues of this brave individual.”
A GoFundMe set up for the teen’s family described the Ramapo High School senior as “a young man full of promise, hope, and dedication.
“Born into a family known for community service, Dariel embraced this legacy wholeheartedly. He was not only an admired figure in his community but a guiding light for his family,” the fundraiser read.
As captain of the Ramapo baseball team, Vasquez served as “a leader among his peers, inspiring others with his compassion, perseverance, and respect for all.”
His family continued: “He had big dreams for the future, with plans to begin college this coming January, a journey he approached with the same dedication he brought to every role in his life.”
GoFundMe could not immediately verify the fundraiser to The Post.
Vasquez’s death comes as firefighters battle severe brush fires across New Jersey and the Hudson Valley as the region’s bone-dry and gusty wind conditions sparked massive blazes.
An air quality alert has been in effect for New York City and the Hudson Valley, along with northern New Jersey.
Red flag warnings will remain in effect from the Garden State to the Big Apple and southern Connecticut until 6 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Firefighters have been battling multiple blazes across the state this weekend, including a two-acre inferno that broke out Friday night in a densely wooded area of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
