Brush fire in NJ Meadowlands (Hudson County)

The nor'easter that is over the atlantic and moving towards Canada may not have any measurable snow in northern New Jersey, but it has left some rather impressive winds. As you can see from the following special weather statement issued by the National Weather Service in New York, NY there is enhanced fire danger in northeastern NJ, New York City and adjoining counties and southern CT. New York City and adjoining counties and southern CT.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1100 AM EDT WED MAR 26 2014

NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX- NORTHERN NEW LONDON-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD-SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN- SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX-SOUTHERN NEW LONDON-WESTERN PASSAIC- EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-EASTERN BERGEN- WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-EASTERN UNION-ORANGE- PUTNAM-ROCKLAND-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER- NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)- KINGS (BROOKLYN)-NORTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-NORTHEASTERN SUFFOLK- SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-NORTHERN QUEENS- NORTHERN NASSAU-SOUTHERN QUEENS-SOUTHERN NASSAU- 1100 AM EDT WED MAR 26 2014

...WEATHER CONDITIONS TO PROMOTE RAPID SPREAD OF BRUSH FIRE ACTIVITY...

IN THE WAKE OF THE STRONG COASTAL STORM MOVING AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST...STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL OCCUR. THE AIR MASS WILL ALSO BECOME QUITE DRY WITH SUNSHINE DEVELOPING...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES DROPPING BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PERCENT.

THE STORM DID NOT CAUSE WETTING PRECIPITATION. THE MONTH OF MARCH HAS BEEN VERY DRY...WITH DEPARTURES OF OVER TWO INCHES IN MOST LOCATIONS. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE LEFT FINE DEAD FUELS VERY DRY AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO BURN AND SPREAD.

ANY FIRE THAT WOULD IGNITE WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY WITH THESE CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING.
IF RESIDENTS SHOULD SPOT A FIRE...PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY.

With this enhanced fire danger in mind, and knowing that it is spring wildfire season in NJ, I was wondering if there was any wildfires in northeastern NJ. I was not terribly surprised to read that there is a brush fire burning in the NJ Meadowlands in Hudson County NJ. I don't have a lot of details at the moment. As you can see from this article (with a map) from the Jersey Journal multiple fire departments responded. According to a CBS2 (NYC) report, rail service on New Jersey Transit was suspended and is now restored. PATH service was (light rail) between Newark and Jersey City was also suspended and is now restored. By the way the picture on the CBS2 report is on I-280 looking east. I-280 does run near portions of the Meadowlands before it terminates at the New Jersey Turnpike.

To the best of my knowledge the Meadowlands is not in a primary response area of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service but they do provide assistance under mutual aid. I saw a picture of what appears to be a New Jersey Forest Fire Service truck in one of the photos from the Jersey Journal so it seems like at least one of the crew from NJ Forest Fire Service Division A was on scene.

As I lived in a town adjoining the Meadowlands for 16 years and would frequently see brush fires in the Meadowlands outside the window of my apartment, I can attest to the fact that the fire departments in municipalities adjoining the Meadowlands know how to handle these blazes.  I'll update this article later with updates on this brush fire.

4:20 PM Update I'm not quite certain if the brushfire in the NJ Meadowlands in under control, I'm hearing conflicting reports. Two news outlets, CBS2 (NYC) and the Jersey Journal are reporting brush fires in other parts of the region [northern New Jersey, Long Island, and Rockland County (NY)]. The Riverhead News-Review provides a little more detail on brush fires in eastern Long Island.

March 27, 8:55 PM Yesterday's brush fire(s), apparently there were two, in the Meadowlands in Hudson County NJ were both brought under control by early evening on the 26th. See this article from the Jersey Journal for more information. In my various wonderings on the internet and elsewhere I have the impression (and could be wrong) that there were other brush fires on March 26th in northern New Jersey asides from the two in the Meadowlands. I have no specific information nor do I have anything to link to. I can attest to the strong winds yesterday (gusting in the 30 to 40 mph range). Small brush fires are not always covered by local media, but I'll keep my eyes open.