The fires in the Northeast haven't caused major evacuations, but a Connecticut firefighter died battling a wildfire last month and the blaze on the New York-New Jersey border claimed the life of an 18-year-old New York state parks employee who was assisting firefighters last weekend.

Nov 12 (Reuters) - Strengthening winds and bone-dry conditions were hindering firefighters working to gain control of a stubborn wildfire burning in a forested stretch along the New York-New Jersey state border about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of New York City.

For hourly updates as wildfires continue to burn throughout the region, check out the New Jersey wildfire, smoke map.

Efforts to contain the Jennings Creek Wildfire continued Wednesday with a new set of challenges on its sixth day near the New Jersey-New York border.

New York has issued a statewide burn ban, while New Jersey is on the verge of issuing a drought warning as firefighters continue to battle the now 5,000-acre wildfire on the border of the two states.