State Police provided an update on Tuesday into the weekend death of an 18-year-old employee of the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation while fighting a fire in Sterling Forest in Greenwood Lake.
The victim identified as Dariel Vasquez, of Pomona, was struck by a tree Saturday afternoon while battling the forest fire. Vasquez ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement on Sunday regarding Vasquez’s death:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of one of our New York State Parks employees while responding to a wildfire in Orange County yesterday. My prayers go out to his family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time. I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers and his bravery on the front lines. New York is battling multiple wildfires due to the dry conditions we are currently facing. Our State employees are working around the clock to protect our communities and we are keeping them close in our thoughts as they put their lives on the line to stop the spread of these wildfires.”
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