A New York State Forest Ranger volunteer died while responding to a wildfire near the New York-New Jersey border that sent smoke drifting across New York City, according to officials.

The Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue said the New York state forestry service reported that the forest ranger, whose name was not released, died when a tree fell on him Saturday afternoon as he battled a major brush fire along the New York-New Jersey border, officials said.