NJ Wildfire History: April 20, 1963 - "Black Saturday"

This morning I noticed the NJ Forest Fire Service post about the largest fire in NJ History that broke out on April 20, 1963 in Burlington and Ocean Counties, burning 183,148 acres. This wildfire lead to the creation of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. I have a book about the NJ Pinelands where this fire burned and I have been there several times so I know of this fire. I remember the six people and one firefighter that lost their lives as well as the homes that were destroyed and residents left homeless.

I am not able to embed this video here, sorry that happens sometimes. Please take a few minutes to watch the video by clicking on the link

NJ 2026 Wildfire Season: Spring Wildfire Season Continues April 17th Update

Spring wildfire season in New Jersey is upon us. Thanks to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 website who report that all New Jersey Forest Fire Service Fire Towers https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/fire-towers/ are staffed today and that all three NJFFS Divisions (A, B, and C) have firefighting aircraft at air bases in each division and ready to go to help the firefighters on the ground fight wildfires. I did see that all fire towers were staffed yesterday, April 16th and firefighting aircraft were on site in the three divisions.

If you are interested in daily updates during the spring fire season go to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10.
 

Obtained on April 17th from https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/fire-towers/

Incident Meteorologists are Important

Direct link to 2018 video from Goeff Liesik on YouTube

One of my interests in focusing on aerial and ground wildland firefighting is the role that Incident Meterologists from the National Weather Service have when they are deployed on wildfire incidents, see my July 2025 article for a longer article on Incident Meterologists (IMETs)a As we enter the spring wildfire season in the United States I am sharing a brief 2018 video from an Incident Meteorologist describing what he does

NJ 2026 Wildfires: West Deptford Twnshp, Gloucester County Contained

As I do almost daily, I go to Facebook to check the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for wildfire activity and prescribed burns. When I went to their Facebook page this past Saturday afternoon I saw a notice about a wildfire in West Deptford Township in Gloucester County NJ, with a notice that they would post a final update early Saturday evening. When I went back to check I saw that the fire in West Deptford Township had burned 160 acres and was at 100% containment. All roads were reopened. I am embedding the final post from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service on the West Deptford wildfire here, but have summarized the post here and am also sharing a link to the NJFFS Facebook post in case you are unable to see my embedded post.

Don't Fly Drones Near Wildfires

Direct link to August 2025 video on YouTube from Airborne Firefighters

You will hear Chief Krussow, CAL Fire Battalion Chief and Air Tactical Group Supervisor. discuss why flying drones and airplanes near wildfires is dangerous. As you will see in the video, there are temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) over some wildfires but it takes some time to get a TFR over a wildfire so many wildfires don't have TFRs. If you are flying a drone or a general aviation airplane you should heed any TFRs you see as you plan your flights. However, you may see smoke when there is not a TFR and you should keep your drone at least 15 miles from any smoke, the same holds for airplanes. Maintaining a 15 mile distance from wildfires will avoid a mid-air collision that could cost lives in the air and on the on ground.  

While the focus of this video is on CAL FIRE's operations in California, some of what Chief Krussow discusses in the video, such as aerial aircraft flight levels over a fire, the role of air attack, as well as not flying over a wildfire applies across the country and globally. For example, in New Jersey when airtankers are deployed over a wildfire there is a NJ Forest Fire Service helicopter that is flying over the fire with one of their roles being to direct firefighting aircraft over the wildfire.

Many years ago when I was on a flight in a small airplane as a passenger, we saw smoke in the distance as well as signs of fire on the ground. The pilot stayed away and while it was likely that the wildfire we saw had already been reported the pilot reported the fire just to be on the safe side. 

Coulson Aviation's New Aircraft for Lead and AirAttack

I was excited to see Coulson Aviation's April 7th Facebook post announcing that they have purchased five Citation aircraft from Canada for their Lead and Air Attack program. I enjoyed watching Coulson's video where I learned more about Coulson's new Citation aircraft. 

SEAT Training in SE Texas for Upcoming Wildfire Season

 

  Direct link to April 3rd video from KFDM News on YouTube

Annual training for current and new pilots and their aircraft who will engage in wildland firefighting over the coming wildfire season is occurring around the country. The pilots of SEATs (single engine aircraft) that will engage in fighting wildfires in southeast is going on at a small airport in Winnie in southeast Texas. Enjoy the video from KFDM News reporting on SEAT training 

At ARC Aviation in Winnie, crews are training and gearing up single-engine air tankers, known as SEAT aircraft, to respond quickly when flames break out. The pilots are being put through training exercises designed to simulate real fire conditions as the company prepares for what it expects could be a dangerous season. “We're doing pilot of the evaluation and check rides and training. We're getting ready for a pretty intense Fire season coming up due to the high drought levels and high temperature, record temperatures,” said Andrew Mitchell, CEO of ARC Aviation of Texas. 

Obtained on April 6th from https://kfdm.com/news/local/winnie-airport-trains-seat-air-tankers-as-southeast-texas-wildfire-season-ramps-up

Friday Fun: Review of Aerial Firefighting Missions in a Lockheed P2V (2015 to 2017)

Direct link to 2022 video from Bob Web on YouTube

I hope you enjoy this video from Bob Webb (air tanker pilot) of aerial fire bombing missions in 2015 to 2017. I have a special place for Lockheed P2V's as this was one of the first air tankers I learned about when I devoted this blog to aerial firefighting. It is possible that I shared this video earlier but it doesn't hurt to share it again.

NJ Forest Fire Service Update for March 31st: Prescribed Burns and Wildfire Contained

 

 

There were a few wildfires that burned on March 31st in Jackson Township (Burlington County. The fires were contained yesterday and I assume that the portion of I 195 that was still closed at the time the NJ Forest Fire Service posted the above update on their Facebook page is now reopened, at least I saw no signs of a closure when I checked this morning.

 

As you can see from the above Facebook post, the NJ Forest Fire did more prescribed burns in multiple locations in Sussex County NJ yesterday. As I understand it, yesterday (March 31st) was the last day the NJ Forest Fire Service can do prescribed burns

First New Fire Tower in New Jersey in 78 Years

Direct link to March 25th video from the NJ Forest Fire Service on YouTube

 

Direct link to March 25th video from PIX 11 News on YouTube

There s a new fire tower known as the Veterans Fire Tower  in Jackson New Jersey that was dedicated on March 25th. This fire tower replaces a decommissioned fire tower in Lakewood NJ. This is the first new fire tower in New Jersey in 78 years.  I do not go to the New Jersey shore as frequently as I used to but I am fairly certain that I had driven by the old Lakewood fire tower. I had heard that the Lakewood Fire Tower was being decommissioned and am glad to be able to report on the new Veterans Fire Tower. As a New Jersey resident who follows wildfire activity I know that important work that observers in fire towers to detect wildfires and then report them to the NJ Forest Fire Service who will then deploy wildland firefighters to work the wildfire. Many but not all of these wildfires can be contained while they are still small. To read more about the Veterans Fire Tower, the importance of fire towers and prescribed burning operations go to this March 25th press release from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection