Firefighters in California are making progress against a wildfire that is burning north of Los Angeles, while authorities in the Northeast issued red flag warnings due to deadly fires during the past weekend.

The Mountain Fire in Ventura County has scorched 20,630 acres as of Tuesday. Its growth was exacerbated last week by winds reaching up to 80 mph, but as those winds diminished, firefighters were able to increase containment to 48%. This improvement has enabled officials to lift some evacuation orders. The fire has destroyed nearly 200 structures, injured six people, and remains a threat to thousands of homes.

In the Northeast, red flag warnings have been issued from New Jersey to Massachusetts following a brief rain over the weekend that did not eliminate the wildfire risk.

Parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York received up to 0.30 inches of rain on Sunday, marking the first precipitation in over a month. However, due to dry soil and leaves, the moisture was quickly absorbed, leaving the area still vulnerable to wildfires, according to officials.

The weather service warned, “Strong winds, low humidity, and dry fuels will significantly increase fire growth potential.” They advised against outdoor burning, noting that any fire that starts could spread rapidly.

Rainfall has aided firefighting efforts against the Jennings Creek wildfire along the New Jersey-New York border, which has burned 3,500 acres and was 20% contained as of Monday night. To prepare for Tuesday’s winds and dry weather, officials strengthened control lines around the eastern perimeter of the fire.

A memorial was held on Monday for Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter who tragically lost his life when a tree fell on him while fighting the Jennings Creek fire in Orange County, N.Y. Friends, family, and fellow community members gathered at Ramapo High School’s baseball field to honor the young athlete and dedicated firefighter.

Fires in Connecticut and Massachusetts

Connecticut is currently monitoring 82 brush fires, according to Will Healey, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Governor Ned Lamont declared a Stage 2 drought advisory for all eight counties in Connecticut over the weekend due to unusually low rainfall and ongoing fire threats statewide.

Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, firefighters are engaged in combat with numerous wildfires. In October, the state’s Department of Fire Service recorded 200 wildland fires— a startling 1,200% increase over the average of 15 fires for that month.

Rain Forecast in the Northeast

A weather front moving from the Midwest is expected to reach the Northeast by Thursday, potentially bringing some tropical moisture and higher humidity levels. However, it will not bring the significant rain needed to provide lasting relief from fire conditions, according to meteorologists.

John Feerick, an AccuWeather meteorologist, stated, “While we may see some rain opportunities this week, it doesn’t guarantee that every area will receive enough precipitation to alleviate fire risks.”

He cautioned that “Some areas might experience at least a week with no rain at all.”