WEST MILFORD, N.J. (AP) — Windy conditions renewed a wildfire that escaped a containtment line and prompted emergency officials to enact a voluntary evacation plan for a small number of houses in a community near the New York-New Jersey border on Saturday.
The voluntary evacuation enacted out of “an abundance of caution” impacted about 165 houses in Warwick, New York, as firefighters continued working to tame the Jennings Creek blaze, New York Parks Department spokesman Jeff Wernick said in an email Saturday night.
On Friday, the wildfire was 90% contained on the Passaic County, New Jersey, side of the border, and about 70% contained in Orange County, New York, officials said.
The wildfire had burned 7 1/2 square miles (19.4 square kilometers) across the two states as of Friday, although New York officials said that number was likely to increase as stronger winds were forecast for the weekend.
On Saturday, Wernick said New York Army National Guard helicopters dropped 21,000 gallons (79,493 liters) of water and a New York State Police helicopter dropped nearly 900 gallons (3,406 liters).
The fire was burning primarily in Sterling Forest State Park, where the visitor center, the lakefront area at Greenwood Lake and historic furnace area remained open but woodland activities including hunting were halted, Wernick said, noting residences around the lake have not been impacted.
A National Weather Service forecast for Warwick did not call for rain until Wednesday night. Firefighters previously said they will remain on the scene until significant rainfall occurs.
The blaze claimed the life of an 18-year-old New York parks employee who died when a tree fell on him as he helped fight the fire in Sterling Forest on Nov. 9.
The fire's cause remains under investigation.
Wildfires burn along the New York and New Jersey border in Greenwood Lake, New York, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Wildfires burn along the New York and New Jersey border in Greenwood Lake, New York, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Jones sent Stipe Miocic into retirement with a stunning back kick to the ribs and used a series of blows to the head in the third round to retain the UFC heavyweight championship in front of President-elect Donald Trump in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Jones posed and played to the crowd on top of the octagon in front of Trump, Elon Musk, picked by Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, and Robert Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in his incoming administration.
Trump walked out to a rousing ovation in front of 20,200 fans just before the start of the pay-per-view card and seemed to bask in thrill of the fighters that throughout the night gave him props — including Jones.
“I want to give a big, big thank you to President Donald Trump being here tonight,” Jones said to a roaring ovation that bled into a “USA! USA!” chant.
"I'm proud to be a great American champion,” Jones said.
Widely considered the best fighter in the world, Jones (28-1-0; 1 NC) was the aggressor from the start and landed a series of shots to Miocic's head in the first round. Jones showed he he plenty of fight left in the tank.
British heavyweight Tom Aspinall looms as the next challenger for Jones. Aspinall won a fight for the interim heavyweight title last November in the Garden. UFC CEO Dana White had promised Aspinall, who chatted with Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, would challenge the winner of the main event in a unification bout.
“As far as my future in the octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire,” Jones said. "I know that we have options.
Miocic (20-5) failed in his bid to win the heavyweight crown for a third time and immediately announced his retirement.
“I'm done,” Miocic said. “I'm hanging 'em up.”
His last fight was in front of the next president.
White captioned a photo he posted on social media “the boys” that featured him with Trump, Kid Rock and Musk. Trump pumped a fist during an occasional outbreak of “USA! USA!” chants. He was flanked on his front-row seat by White on his right and Musk on his left and politely applauded the fight winners.
UFC fans wore red Trump hats and some waved flags emblazoned with his image during breaks in the action.
In a lightweight bout that made every fan from Kid Rock to Jordan Knight to Anthony Kiedis go wild at the finish in the fifth round, Charles Oliveira beat Michael Chandler via unanimous decision. The fight was a rematch of their May 2021 fight when Charles Oliveira topped Chandler to win the lightweight title. Oliveira staked his claim to another title fight with the win
The fifth round was about as good as it gets inside the octagon highlighted by Chandler dropping Oliveira twice on his back. The 38-year-old Chandler stepped inside the cage for the first time in two years, in large part because he waited for a fight that never materialized with Conor McGregor.
“We've been wondering where you've been, Conor,” Chandler bellowed in the cage. “Come back and beat me if you can.”
McGregor has been sued by a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Dublin hotel in 2018.
Chandler shook Trump’s hand after the fight on a card more charged with politics than punches.
Trump is tight with White, a relationship that dates to UFC’s formative years before its rise into a billion-dollar promotion. New Jersey was one of the first states that embraced UFC and White has long credited fights at the Trump Taj Mahal for helping the company grow into a heavyweight in the sports world. White both spoke at Trump’s request at the Republican National Convention and appeared on stage at the election party.
UFC fighters spoke this week in New York with excitement about earning the chance to fight in front of Trump.
“To see Dana up on stage at the election, I feel like that moment just elevated the whole sport,” Jones said. “Americans, people from around the world were like, who’s the bald-headed dude talking? That represents all of us.”
Bo Nickal topped Paul Craig by unanimous decision in a welterweight fight, then crouched to speak to Trump.
Trump threw his arms open when he spotted UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan. Trump and Rogan embraced and shared a few words before the opening bout of the main card.
Trump sat ahead of the election for a three-hour interview on Rogan's podcast. Rogan helped encourage on the podcast some of Trump's false claims about voting, election fraud and his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
Rogan endorsed Trump for president.
Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also attended.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Bo Nickal reacts after defeating Scotland's Paul Craig in a UFC 309 mixed martial arts middleweight title bout, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Scotland's Paul Craig punches Bo Nickal during a UFC 309 mixed martial arts middleweight title bout, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Bo Nickal, right, punches Scotland's Paul Craig in a UFC 309 mixed martial arts middleweight title bout, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Brazil's Charles Oliveira reacts after his fight against Michael Chandler as President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, early Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York, with Kid Rock, Dana White and Elon Musk. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York, with Kid Rock, Donald Trump Jr., Dana White and Elon Musk. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President-elect Donald Trump watches as Bo Nickal, facing camera, fights Scotland's Paul Craig at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Michael Chandler with Brazil's Charles Oliveira on his back in a UFC 309 mixed martial arts lightweight title bout, early on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Michael Chandler, left, punches Brazil's Charles Oliveira in a UFC 309 mixed martial arts lightweight title bout, early on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Brazil's Charles Oliveira reacts after defeating Michael Chandler in a UFC 309 mixed martial arts lightweight title bout, early on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
