A wildfire in New Jersey threatens a historic village that made iron for the Revolutionary War and Civil War

New Jersey firefighters are working to protect homes and a historic landmark where Revolutionary War iron was made for the country’s first soldiers.

According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the wildfire began in Jennings Creek in West Milford, New Jersey, and is threatening 25 structures, including eight structures in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District.

Over the past two months, drought, dry leaves and low humidity have plagued New Jersey and much of the Northeast, leading to wildfires across the region. On Sunday, New Jersey and New York saw their first measurable rain in weeks.

Although about an inch of rain fell across the area Monday night, firefighters are back on scene and working to establish containment lines for the 5,000-acre fire, including protecting the Long Pond Ironworks, which borders the New Jersey range adjacent. New York state line in Hewitt, New Jersey.

Long Pond Ironworks was founded in 1766. The founders built a dam on Long Pond, now called Greenwood Lake, to power the furnace.

A New York State Parks employee was killed last week while battling the Jennings Creek Wildfire in Greenwood Lake, according to New York State Police.

Today, the 175-acre Historic District site contains the remains of Long Pond’s village and blast furnaces, which produced iron for American forces during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and for the Union Army during the Civil War, known as the Friends of Long Pond Ironworks.

Long Pond has been a New Jersey State Park and a National Historic Landmark since 1987.

The trails and visitor center at the Long Pond Ironworks Historic Site were closed Monday due to the ongoing wildfires. All trails on Tranquility Ridge are also closed.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Jennings Creek wildfire has resulted in closures north of Greenwood Lake Turnpike and east of Awosting Road, as well as all areas of Ringwood State Park.

Original source of the article: A wildfire in New Jersey threatens a historic village that made iron for the Revolutionary War and Civil War