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New Jersey is currently at the height of its wildfire season, prompting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to urge residents to remain vigilant. State Fire Warden Bill Donnelly highlighted the readiness of fire crews, especially given the forecast of minimal rainfall in the coming weeks. The state has already experienced a few fires this season, and conditions such as low humidity and southern winds make it ripe for more.
Last year, New Jersey faced over 1,300 wildfires, burning more than 27,000 acres, including the Jones Road Fire, which took 20 days to contain and burned 15,300 acres. To combat such incidents, the state relies heavily on its network of 21 fire towers for early detection and rapid response. A new addition to this network is the Veterans Fire Tower in Jackson Township, which enhances wildfire protection for Ocean and Monmouth counties.
The DEP is also emphasizing the importance of prescribed burns as a key tool in wildfire prevention. These controlled burns help reduce hazardous forest fuels and maintain healthy forest ecosystems. The state plans to conduct prescribed burns on 25,000 acres this year, primarily in the Pine Barrens, which has an ecosystem adapted to wildfires.
John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests, and Historic Sites, noted the increasing number of fire weather days due to climate change, making it crucial to have effective wildfire detection and prevention strategies. Residents are encouraged to properly extinguish fires and be cautious with leftover ashes and brush around their properties.