Over the past week, several wildfires have burned across New Jersey, including in Bergen, Passaic, Ocean, Burlington, Gloucester, and Camden County. Some have been contained; others have not. Keep reading for what to know about New Jersey’s wildfires.
The Details
Over the past week, seven wildfires have spread across New Jersey, six of which have reached sufficient containment levels, and one that still burns in Northern New Jersey as of this writing.
As of November 11th, the Jennings Creek Fire is still active along West Milford’s Greenwood Lake Turnpike and East Shore Road in Passaic County and parts of Orange County, New York.
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According to a video posted on Facebook by Steve Neuhaus, the County Executive of Orange County, one death due to the fire has been accounted for. On November 8th, forest ranger Dariel Vasquez was killed when a tree collapsed and fell on him when attending to the fire.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported on X that 10% of this 3,000-acre fire is currently contained. However, 25 structures are still threatened, including residential homes in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District of West Milford and East Shore Road in Greenwood Lake, New York.
The Shotgun Wildfire in Jackson Township, the Bethany Run fire in Burlington and Camden Counties, the Wharton State Forest fire in Camden County, the Pheasant Run fire in Glassboro, the Englewood Cliffs fire in Englewood Cliffs, and the Cannonball 3 Wildfire in Pompton Lakes have all been contained. Check out the New Jersey Forest Fire X page for further updates.
The Cause of the Wildfires
Although the cause of most of these fires is still under investigation, the state’s drought status has been a contributing factor.
According to Drought.gov, 8.8 million New Jersey residents are experiencing various levels of drought. Northern New Jersey has a moderate level of drought, whereas Central and parts of Southern New Jersey are experiencing severe drought. The coast of Southern New Jersey, including Ocean, Burlington, and Atlantic County, is reported to be in extreme drought.
Some of the state’s water supply is reported to have normal streamflow conditions. However, most of New Jersey is experiencing below, much below, or lower-than-average conditions. See the map of streamflow conditions nationwide here.
Note that the statewide drought has impacted reservoirs across the state. Notably, the Jersey City Reservoir’s water levels have decreased due to the lack of rain. According to the Jersey City Times, The Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority reported a seven-foot decline from the dam’s spill line.
Updates on the Shotgun Wildfire
The Shotgun Wildfire in Jackson Township has been ruled an act of arson, according to a Facebook post by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
On November 6th at the Central Jersey Rifle Range in Jackson Township, an individual by the name of Richard Shashaty fired a round of magnesium shards out of a Dragons Breath, a 12-gauge shotgun, igniting various combustibles on the berm of the rifle range.
Because the firing of this kind of ammunition is prohibited in New Jersey, the individual has been charged with Arson and Violation of the Regulatory Provisions Relating to Firearms.
Statewide Restrictions
With little to no rain reported across all of New Jersey, the state is still at high risk for wildfires. The NJ Fire Danger Dashboard on the NJDEP website states that the fire danger is still high in Northern and Central New Jersey and extremely high in Southern New Jersey.
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As of November 11th, a Stage 3 Restriction is still in effect, according to the NJDEP. This means residents are prohibited from igniting charcoal fires, fires in wooded areas, and agricultural burning. The only exceptions are fires contained in an elevated stove that use propane, natural gas, gas, or electricity.
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New Jersey’s Drought Warning: What You Need to Know
In addition to above-average temperatures and several wildfires over the past few weeks, New Jersey is now dealing with a statewide drought. On November 13th, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) declared a statewide drought warning. Read on for what we know about the drought warning in New Jersey and tips for residents to conserve the water supply.
What to Know
Following a series of wildfires that have burned across New Jersey, NJDEP Department Commissioner Shawn M. Latourette signed an Administrative Order on November 13th, 2024, authorizing a Drought Warning designation for the state of New Jersey.
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This follows a hearing on November 12th, when the NJDEP met with water suppliers and New Jersey residents to discuss the current water supply conditions and develop management options.
New Jersey is currently experiencing a meteorological drought caused by periods of low precipitation and high heat. According to a statement released by NJDEP Commissioner Latourette and Governor Phil Murphy, climate change is the cause of this meteorological drought and a number of environment-related issues.
“Climate change is driving our record low precipitation and above-average temperature recorded statewide in September and October,” Commissioner LaTourette said in a statement. “This combination of events has resulted in decreased streamflow and groundwater levels, which harms our available water supplies.”
The Drought Warning is the next step in formally preserving the state’s available water supply and reducing the chances of more severe water shortages. This allows the Department of Environmental Protection to direct water transfers across the state, control releases from reservoirs, and modify the flow rate in streams and rivers.
In addition to the Administrative Order, the Department of Environmental Protection is actively cooperating with water suppliers to evaluate the current conditions and ensure they are thoroughly informed about the situation.
Water Conservation Tips
Governor Murphy and the NJDEP encourage New Jersey residents to take preemptive measures to conserve the water supply. Residents should:
- Allow lawns to go dormant for the season.
- Shut off irrigation systems as soon as possible.
- Use only a watering can to water plants or allow them to go dormant for the season.
- Instead of a hose, use a broom to sweep the sidewalk.
- Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes and replace toilets with low-flow versions, which can save around 11,000 gallons annually.
- Upgrade showerhead to low-flow versions. This can save 7,700 gallons of water per year.
- Upgrade faucets or install faucet aerators, which saves approximately 16,000 gallons of water per year.
“It can be challenging to adjust our daily habits, but it is imperative that we all work together, heed the guidance to conserve water, and use the utmost caution outdoors to reduce the risk of wildfire as dry conditions continue statewide,” Governor Murphy said in the release.
Visit the NJDEP website to stay informed on further news and alerts regarding the drought warning in New Jersey.
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