NEW YORK — Parks and Recreation aide Dariel Vasquez, 18, died on Saturday, Nov. 11 after responding to a wildfire in Orange County.
Following the death, Governor Hochul announced on Sunday all flags on state buildings will be flown at half-staff starting at sunrise on Monday, Nov. 18.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Vasquez family as they mourn the sudden and tragic loss of Dariel,” Governor 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.”
Dariel was an aide at the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department. He is survived by his mother Miosotis and his father Juan.
The Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue said the New York state forestry service reported that Dariel died when a tree fell on him that Saturday afternoon while he battled a major brush fire along the New York-New Jersey border, officials said.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Forest Fire Service reported the sprawling blaze had spread to more than 3 square miles (about 8 square kilometers) near the border in Passaic County's West Milford and Orange County, New York. Dubbed the Jennings Creek wildfire, it was threatening two homes and eight buildings in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District.
Governor Hochul shared the following message in a statement after the incident:
“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," Governor Hochul said. "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.”
