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.

Fire crews on both coasts of the U.S. are battling wildfires, including one in New York and New Jersey that killed a parks employee

The Jennings Creek fire is currently burning across 3,500 acres, officials said, and is expected to grow to over 5,000 acres.

Firefighters are slowly making progress in their battle against a wildfire at the border of New Jersey and New York.

A fatal wildfire burning in northern New Jersey and across the New York state border in Orange County has consumed more than 3,500 acres was just 20% contained as of Monday afternoon, officials said.

High wind gusts and low humidity are proving challenging for firefighters battling thousands of acres of wildfire across Passaic County on Tuesday.