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

Friday Fun: Dancing Airplanes

Direct link to video posted by Captain Bernoulli in December 2020 on YouTube

I wanted to share a funny airplane video for this week's Friday Fun. I remembered seeing the video that I shared here on YouTube awhile back and it fit the bill. I know that airplanes can not really dance in the way shown in this video, that is not the point. The point is that this video made me smile and giggle. I hope you enjoy this video

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Prescribed Burning March 25

Obtained on March 25th from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19DAFRnBog/

With the exception of Monday March 23rd when the weather was not conducive for prescribed burns the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has continued with prescribed burns in thirteen of twenty-one counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties). As I understand, weather permitting, prescribed burns will continue through the end of the month.

Obtained on March 25th from http://wildfire.nj.gov

 

1st Female Fire Observer for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service

As some of you know, I have an interest in the role of women in fighting wildfires and as well as providing support services for wildfires. I was especially interested when I came across a Facebook post by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service about Julia Cramer, the first female fire observer for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service in 1921, she was nineteen years of age and served in the Batso Fire Tower in what is now the Wharton State Forest in the New Jersey Pinelands. I applaud Julia for her service and for being one of early women working for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.  

Friday Fun: Women in Aviation at Coulson Aviation

Direct link to February 2026 video from Coulson Aviation on YouTube

I think that women are playing an increasing role in fire aviation as demonstrated by the video from Coulson Aviation that they recently shared on Facebook. I am always happy to see videos and images highlighting women's role in fire aviation. I believe that Coulson may have shared this video to honor women in aviation week a few weeks ago.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Prescribed Burning Continues

Obtained on March 18th from https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NJDEP/bulletins/40eddca

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues with prescribed burning today, March 18th in Burlington, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. 

Obtained on March 18th from https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/prescribed-fire-notifications/

For current information from the NJ Forest Fire Service about wildfires go to https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Prescribed Burns Continue and Brushfires

I understand from a conversation with a knowledgeable friend that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service  has extended the prescribed burn period to April 1st, probably because the two winter storms created wet conditions that were not conducive to prescribed burns. To that end, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service conducted more prescribed burns this past weekend on March 14th and again on March 15th in Burlington, Cape may, Gloucester, and Monmouth Counties. It is raining today so I don't think that any prescribed burns are happening today.

I also understand that there have been some recent brushfires in New Jersey. According to Jersey Coast Emergency News there was a brush fire in East Amwell Township (Hunterdon County) over the weekend, go here for more information. I have no further information on that brush fire. An addition, according to Jersey Coast Emergency News there were also several brush fires over the weekend. Finally, a friend told me about a small brush fire on Saturday, less than 5 acres near Manalapan in Monmouth County, NJ.

Florida: Aerial Prescribed Burns and Single Engine Eagle Helicopter

Direct link to Dec. 2025 video from VerticalPlus on YouTube

I know how important prescribed burning is as a tool to manage wildfire danger. As some of you may know, I consider Florida to be one of my special places so I have an interest in following how they fight wildfires. I enjoyed the video that I am sharing here from VerticalPlus about Florida's prescribed burning program and their use of an Eagle single engine helicopter. The state of Florida uses this Eagle single engine helicopter that has been converted from a twin engine to a single engine helicopter, for aerial prescribed burns because of its efficiency. I learned more about Florida's aerial prescribed burning program.

NJ Forest Fire Service - Prescribed Burns Conducted on March 10th & 11th

I follow the NJ Forest Fire Service on Facebook as well  as following the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page. Yesterday I noted in both sites that the NJ Forest Fire Service conducted prescribed burns in southern and central New Jersey in the counties of Burlington, Cumberland, Monmouth and Ocean. See this March 10th post on Facebook from the NJ Forest Fire Service for more information. 

Edited to add at 10:25 AM on March  11th: I just found out from the NJ Forest Fire Service Facebook account and the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page (links above) that the NJ Forest Fire Service is doing more prescribed burns today, March 11th in Burlington, Cape May and Ocean Counties. The NJ Forest Fire Service just posted a March 11th update on their Facebook page, go here to see their March 11th post.

Obtained on March 11th from https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/prescribed-fire-notifications/

Note, the map that I shared here is the current map (March 11th) when I posted this entry. The map may be different if you access the site on a different day.

Transporting a MH-47 Chinook Helicopter

I have to admit that I never gave much thought to how large helicopters such as the MH-47 Chinook are transported when they are not able to fly. Yes, I was being a little dense. Anyway, I was intrigued when I was checking my Facebook feed this morning and saw this post by Coulson Aviation of a MH-47 Chinoom being transported by a large tractor trailer. I do believe but I am not certain that a smaller helicopter might be able to be transported by a large aircraft such as a C130 when they are not able to fly. Anyway, I thought that these pictures from Coulson might be of interest to some of you so I am sharing it today

Direct link to March 4th post by Coulson Aviation on Facebook