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October 22, 2024Free Community Event: Local 379 vs. Field of Dreams Hawks
October 22, 2024
Rising Drought Levels Cause Brush and Wildfires Across NJ
As dry, summerlike conditions persist, fire danger is still "very high" throughout New Jersey, and state forest fire personnel and local firefighters have been working hard to extinguish fires in a number of areas.
Over the weekend, a number of brush and wildfires started, including one in Rockaway Township, where firefighters from the
New Jersey Forest Fire Service had been fighting a 77-acre fire since Saturday.
On Monday, a second wildfire broke out at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, causing smoke to spread into Ocean and Burlington counties. In an effort to slow the spread, base firefighters were burning fuel ahead of the main fire line as per the most recent update.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of Burlington, Camden, Ocean, and Atlantic counties are among the New Jersey counties that are suffering from extreme drought conditions.
A large portion of North Jersey is regarded as "abnormally dry," while moderate drought is occurring in other cities in Central Jersey, South Jersey, and the Shore region.
As the state copes with historically dry weather, the
New Jersey Forest Fire Service imposed Stage 3 fire restrictions on Monday.
Charcoal burning are forbidden under the regulations. All fires in forested areas must be put out with an elevated stove and can only be started using electricity, gas, propane, or natural gas.
Last Thursday, the administration of Governor Phil Murphy issued a statewide drought watch, urging businesses and households to use less water.
