An 18-year-old former high school baseball player who serves as a New York state parks worker died fighting a fire in Sterling Forest on Saturday, according to New York State Police.

Dariel Vasquez, a 2024 graduate of Ramapo High School (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) was an aide for the Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department, the statement said. Sterling Forest, located on the New York side of the states' border, has been heavily impacted by the Jennings Creek Wildfire that grew to 2,500 acres as of Sunday night, according to NorthJersey.com. Vasquez was killed when a tree fell on him, according to multiple outlets.

Vasquez, who was described by East Ramapo Central School District Superintendent of Schools Anthony DiCarlo as a "dedicated student and a gifted athlete - a leader among his classmates and teammates" in a statement, was a four-year varsity baseball player and captain in 2024, according to Lohud. He was named the Rockland County Senior Male Athlete of Spring 2024, per the outlet.

Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement to the outlet: "I commend his dedication to serving and protecting his fellow New Yorkers and his bravery on the front lines."

A GoFundMe page states: "Dariel was a young man full of promise, hope, and dedication. Born into a family known for community service, Dariel embraced this legacy wholeheartedly."

As of Sunday afternoon, the wildfire had grown to 2,500 acres and was 0% contained, per NorthJersey.com, an increase from 2,000 acres on Saturday night. On Sunday afternoon, the Orange County Government and Orange County Emergency Services advised residents to have an evacuation plan but stated the "Incident Command team has not indicated that evacuations are imminent."