The New Jersey Forest Fire Service estimates that an average of 1,500 wildfires occur in the state of NJ every year, destroying 7,000 acres of forest. These wildfires not only damage the ecosystem but also impact the lives of those who own homes in regions where these fires are the most prevalent. The trend continued this year during the month of October, in which several hundred wildfires were reported across the Garden State. The weather has been a major factor in the prevalence of wildfires, as most of the state has reported no rain for several weeks. First responders and other personnel work to mitigate the fires and help those affected.
In recent weeks, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the weather conditions across the state. This warning is issued when “the combination of dry fuels and weather conditions support extreme fire danger.” This warning is meant to let land and fire managers know of an increased risk of a wildfire in a certain area.
The drought that has been affecting NJ for the past month has turned worse. At the beginning of October, “more than 87% of New Jersey was classified as ‘abnormally dry,’ with 26% of those areas having moderate drought conditions and 4% having severe drought conditions,” reports Len Melisurgo of True New Jersey. By the 15th, the entire state was classified as abnormally dry, with 59% having moderate drought conditions and 12% having severe drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor map. The areas that have been most affected by the drought are Atlantic, Burlington, and Ocean counties, with portions of Camden and Gloucester counties also being affected.
The drought has caused trees to be brittle and susceptible to insect invasions and fires. The drought has diminished both the size and yield of crops. Water quality across the state has gotten worse as groundwater diminishes and irrigation ponds dry. State fire officials have issued a Level Three fire restriction, prohibiting all forms of outdoor fires except those done in an elevated stove, with the only allowed fuel being propane, natural gas, or electricity.
By September 15, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service had responded to 334 wildfires burning 650 acres of land. By mid-October, 242 of those fires were still burning. Winds blowing between 5 and 10 miles per hour have also been responsible for the spread of these fires, as they contribute to the dry conditions of the land. Firefighter crews across the state have been working together to extinguish or control the fires that have arisen, attempting to keep them from progressing far into residential areas.
During the Weekend of October 25, at least three other wildfires were reported in Essex County, with one of the fires burning an acre of the 53-acre forest preserve of Drew University. In addition to that, residents of Glassborro’s Elsmere Park in Gloucester County, one mile away from Rowan University, were warned about a fire burning roughly 16 acres of the surrounding woods. By that Monday, the fire had been 80% contained. In south NJ, a wildfire was reported in Seaville, which is located in the Upper Township of Cape May County. Officials report that this fire reached three acres before being completely contained.
As of October 21, New Jersey has reported roughly 900 wildfires for the year, with four of them being severe fires, burning roughly 100 acres each. This fall season has brought about unusual weather conditions, as the climate has been exceptionally hot and dry in the past months. For five months, rainfall has been the lowest it has ever been, and the drought has had large-scale effects on agriculture and quality of life for people across the state. Wildfire season usually occurs between mid-October and mid-November, but this year saw it starting earlier due to a large number of factors. State officials are working to extinguish the fires still burning and prevent new ones from starting. All people must obey the warnings issued and do their part in preventing fires.
Courtesy of NJ Forest Fire Service
