A look at Air Attack Operations from the National Interagency Fire Center

On a nice early spring day here in New Jersey after some rain over the weekend and more showers on the way tomorrow into the rest of the week, we are still in the middle of our spring fire season. I am reminded that even with the rain, the sandy soils of the NJ Pine Barrens (aka Pinelands) can dry out quickly. And while the soils in northern and central New Jersey may dry out slowly, we should never let our guard down. Aircraft continue on contract in central and southern New Jersey with a NJ Forest Fire Service based in northern New Jersey.

I am a little bit superstitious, so let's just say I am taking advantage of this fine day to share a video from the National Interagency Fire Center (produced in 2012 and revised in 2013) on Air Attack. I shared this video about six years ago on this blog, and I think it bears repeating, so here it is again. You will learn about Air Attack Operations and the difference between air attack, lead planes, and aerial supervision modules (ASM) along with radio communications between aircraft and between aircraft and ground crew supervisors. Some of the dangers facing low level air operations are discussed such as power lines, meteorological towers, and wind turbines. Most but not all of the operations that you will learn about in this video occur in the western part of the United States. While some states have their own or contract aircraft that fly fires without air attack, some of what you learn here applies to these operations (communications with ground crews and dangers to low level aircraft.

The video is about 11 minutes long.


Direct link to video from the National Interagency Fire Center

More on NJ Forest Fire Service Prescribed Burning & Wildfire Prevention Techniques

Following up on my March 29th article on the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's (NJFFS) 2019 Prescribed Burning Season (84th year), through the end of March the NJ Forest Fire Service completed prescribed burns on 22,616 acres. In my March 29th article, I linked to Bill Gabbert's March 25th article on Wildfire Today with Michael Achey and Marie Cook's article on the NJFFS prescribed burning program. Achey an Cook discuss the New Jersey Prescribed Burning Act:

NJFFS has been using prescribed fire on state lands since 1936, primarily to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations. Other beneficial effects of these treatments include providing high quality wildlife habitat and resilience in forest health. While reducing the threat to public safety posed by hazardous fuels is always the primary mission, this year’s signing of the New Jersey Prescribed Burning Act has given fire management officers additional latitude for using prescribed fire as a tool to achieve several other ecological objectives. While prescribed burning takes place statewide across all ownerships, much of the activity is concentrated on state lands in fire-adapted Pine Barrens communities.

In a recent NJFFS New Release (go here to read this news release from the NJ DEP,  News Release 19/P029)) State Firewarden Greg McLaughlin discusses prescribed burns to manage habitats and other ecological needs that are now possible because of the New Jersey Prescribed Burning Act. These burns to manage habitats will be conducted after the spring wildfire season ends:

After the threat of wildfire decreases, the Forest Fire Service may implement up to 17 additional “growing season” prescribed burn projects across 1,325 acres. 

“Prescribed burning during the growing season is a unique and innovative new management practice that has never before been implemented here,” State Firewarden Greg McLaughlin said. ”This is the result of the recently signed legislation known as the Prescribed Burn Act, which has authorized the Forest Fire Service to use prescribed fire for habitat management as well as to reduce fuels.” 

Examples of habitat management projects include creating and enhancing wildlife habitats, targeting treatment of nonnative invasive species and restoring native forest habitats.

This year marks the second year that representatives from other states participated in a Prescribed Fire Learning Exchange, according to NJ DEP News Release 19/P029:

This year marked the second time the Forest Fire Service hosted a Prescribed Fire Learning Exchange for others and participated in wildland fire research projects with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. 

Visitors to the learning exchange included five forest health representatives from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, a fire ecologist from the New York Central Pine Barrens Commission, two firefighters from the Fire Department of New York, five fire and aviation management personnel from the Montana Department of Natural Resources, four students from Utah State University and eight students from Northern Arizona University. Florida is the only other state on the East Coast to offer similar training. 

In addition to the success of the learning exchange and work on various public and private lands, the Forest Fire Service also assisted in implementing numerous wildland fire research projects.

Achey and Cook also write about the Prescribed Fire Learning Exchange, see Bill Gabbert's March 25th article.

I am very proud of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service as the are gaining some national attention for their prescribed burning program. I am looking forward to the prescribed burns to for habitat management. The NJFFS wildland fire crews work hard fighting wildland fires as well as doing prescribed burns. Thank-you for all you do keep us in New Jersey safe.

Last but by no means least, please enjoy these two short videos about the NJFFS Prescribed Burning Program that were referenced in the NJ DEP News Release 19/P029

Singer-Songwriter Rain Perry on Surviving the Thomas Fire

Singer-songwriter Rain Perry lost her music studio and contents in the 2017 Thomas Fire that burned over 280,000 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Rain lives in Ojai and was fortunate that her home was not destroyed. Many of her neighbors lost their homes to the Thomas Fire. Rain has recently released a video of a song that she wrote, Vapor, filmed at the ruins of the historic Amestoy House in Upper Ojai. One of Rain's representative's contacted me because I write a blog focusing on wildland firefighting asking me if I would share the video with you. I listened to her video featuring at least 12 friends and neighbors who lost their homes and or studios. Each of the dozen people you will see in the video have an object from their burned homes. I found the video to be very moving and thought that some of you would like to see her video. Vapor is but one of the songs on her new album, Let's be Brave. The proceeds of the April 27th celebration of the release of Let's Be Brave held in Ojai CA will benefit the California Community Foundation Wildfire Release Fund.  Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today wrote about Rain Perry and her Let's Be Brave album on April 23rd.


Direct link to Vapor by Rain Perry

From 2017: footage of NJFFS helicopter working a wildfire

I came across the video last week thanks to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 webpage who posted it last week on their video of the week page (videos changed weekly). It is possible that this video is one that I have shared before, if so it is worth a second viewing.

You will see about five minutes of footage of a New Jersey Forest Fire Service helicopter and bucket working an April 2017 wildfire in Ramapo Reservation in northern Bergen County, NJ.



direct link to video from Mahwah Fire Rescue

2019 fire season: large tankers on contract with US Forest Service

I knew that it was getting to that time of year when we would start seeing large air tankers on contract with the US Forest Service. So, I went to Bill Gabbert's Fire Aviation site to find out if he had posted about the 2019 large air tankers. My efforts were rewarded when I found hist April 15th article, updated on April 17th on 13 large air tankers under contract for 2019.

I know that many of you follow Bill's blogs, and you will already know about the13 large air tankers on exclusive use contracts with the US Forest Service in 2019; according to Bill it is likely that another five air tankers will be going on contract soon. As I do write about aerial wildland fire fighting, I think it is important for me to post about these exclusive use contracts for large air tankers.

Bill writes the following in his April 15th article on these 13 large air tankers:

Currently six of them have been activated according to the estimated starting dates of the Mandatory Availability Periods (MAP). On April 17 a seventh will begin. The rest will come on between May 1 and May 29. 

The 13 air tankers confirmed so far on exclusive use contracts for 2019 are:
• 10 Tanker Air Carrier: 910 and 912 (DC-10)
• Coulson: 131 (C-130Q)
• Aero Air: 101 and 107, (MD-87)
• Aero Flite: 160, 161, 163, and 167 (RJ85)
• Neptune: 01, 15, 16, and 40

You will want to read Bill's April 15th in its entirety to read about related issues.

If five additional large air tankers go on exclusive use contracts sometime soon, whatever that means, the 18 large tankers on exclusive use (EU) contract are not enough. The advantage of exclusive use contracts over call when needed (CWN) contracts is that air craft under exclusive use contracts are paid to be available during a contract specified mandatory availability period while call when needed aircraft are only paid when they are called up to be ready to fly and at a higher cost as compared with exclusive use aircraft.

In June of 2018, I wrote about my concerns over the decrease in air tankers and helicopters on contract to fly fires. I don't know the status of CWN contracts for 2019. My concerns remain the same this year. On June 8, 2018, I wrote in part:

Following up on Bill Gabbert’s comments on the higher costs and other concerns about the CWN contracts along with the reduction in available EU contracted aircraft, it is just a matter of time during this 2018 wildfire season when all EU contracted aircraft will be assigned to fires, so the call will go out for additional aircraft to work wildfires. So, the USFS asks those contractors on CWN contracts if they have available aircraft. As Bill points out in his February 21st [2018] article, the cost of aircraft under a CWN contract is higher than under an EU contract. It stands to reason that the contractors may try obtain other contracts for their CWN aircraft. Or perhaps, sadly, they haven’t other contracts, deciding that it costs too much to keep a CWN aircraft and crew ready to fly fires so the aircraft sits without a contract. What happens then? 

Not only does the CWN contractor have to have available aircraft, they also have to have available crew and maintenance personal. What happens if that crew can not afford to sit around with no pay waiting for the call to fly? Perhaps they get other flying jobs in the meantime. What happens then?

It is important to note that at this time, I do not know about the status of any CWN contracts that the US Forest Service might issue. If the number of available aircraft and crew on CWN contracts this year is lower than in 2018 then the scenario that I wrote about last year might be worse.  With a reduced number or no aircraft on CWN contracts in 2019, what happens once all available EU aircraft are assigned to a fire? Could a call go out for a large air tanker or a helicopter to work a fire with a response that none are available? What happens then?

Tribute in honor of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

direct link to video

Like many of you, I have been following the fire that burned in the Notre Dame Cathedral in France on Monday night (April 15th). Some 400 Parisian firefighters fought the blaze, one was badly injured. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of the Parisian Firefighters who worked the fire over night, at great risk to themselves to save Notre Dame and the artifacts inside. I am glad that Notre Dame is still standing, albeit wounded. I want to take this day to pause and stand in remembrance and solidarity with the people of France to honor Notre Dame. Notre Dame is special.


direct link to video

2018 wildfire season: Geronimo Hotshots 2018 crew video

On a rather windy day in spring fire season here in New Jersey and environs following some thunderstorms over night, we are still seeing moderate fire danger in the northern and southern portions of New Jersey with central New Jersey seeing low fire danger. All this could change quickly. Perhaps it would be too windy for the SEATs and helicopters to fly? Anyway, I always hope for the best during our spring fire season and the rest of year. Thank-you NJ Forest Fire Service crews who work to to keep us in New Jersey safe.

Please enjoy the 2018 crew video from the Geronimo Hotshots. The Geronimo Hotshots are from the San Carlo Apache Tribe. Please take a moment to pause and remember the wildland firefighters, and their families, who have given their lives in the line of duty to keep us safe.


Direct link to Youtube video uploaded by the Geronimo Hotshots. 

Aircraft on contract in New Jersey for 2019 spring wildfire season

I have no official information, but it is my understanding that aircraft are on contract in New Jersey for the spring wildfire season for the next 3 to 4 weeks. Friends tell me that the following aircraft are currently on contract:

Division A (northern NJ): Delta 7 (Huey Helicopter) at Aeroflex Andover Airbase (Sussex County)
Division B (central NJ): Tanker 81 (AT-802) at Miller Air (Ocean County)
Division C: Tanker 61 (AT-602) at Downstown Air (Cumberland County)

Thanks to Mike Archer from Wildfire News of the Day for sharing an article from 94.3 the Point about the AT-802 currently on contract in central New Jersey.

Meet some California Smokejumpers

I wanting to post something a little different today, and came upon this nine minute plus video called Smokejumpers: Fire in the Blood an April 2016 report by ABC News. I enjoyed this behind the scene look at what smokejumpers. This may be a rerun, so to speak, if so it is worth showing again. Enjoy.


Direct link to Youtube Video by ABC News

Photos of Spring Hill Fire burn scar

I have good pilot friends who understand me and my love of aviation. They know that I will never be a licensed pilot and take me on "sight seeing" flights as schedules allow. Meaning when the weekend weather cooperates. This past weekend, we had two good days, so I was able to go flying on Sunday afternoon, April 7th.

It was a great day for flying, and there were a lot of folk who were also in the air. We flew the Pine Barrens, and flew over a portion of the burn scar from the Spring Hill Fire. Recall this article by Stephen Stirling of New Jersey Advanced Media showing some before and after satellite imagery of the Spring Hill Fire burn scar. He reported on what Larry Hajna of the NJ DEP said about the veins of green trees that you see in the three of the four photos:

“The long, thin ribbons of trees result from a phenomenon called horizontal roll vortices,” said Hajna. “Basically, these tornadic winds move upward and it kind of does a wave and creates an air pocket that is cooler than the surrounding environment. And it leaves a strip of unburned trees and leaves a path that indicates the direction.”

These thin ribbons of trees are especially pronounced in this first photo. please excuse the poor quality of the photograph. Taking pictures out of the window of an airplane is sometimes challenging and I had to retouch the photograph.

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, photographed on April 7, 2019

The next two photos are taken when we are near Coyle Field. Coyle Field is owned by the NJ Forest Fire Service. Route 72 where NJ Forest Fire Service ground crews did burn out operations runs adjacent to Coyle Field (barely visible in the second photo).

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, Coyle Field (NJFFS) photographed on April 7, 2019

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, Coyle Field (NJFFS) photographed on April 7, 2019

This last photograph is taken somewhere over the Spring Hill Burn scar. Again the photo quality is not the greatest. But it does show the burned area.

Spring Hill Fire burn scar, photographed on April 7, 2019

NJ Pine Barrens can recover from a wildfire

I have found it sad to see a large area of my beloved NJ Pine Barrens burned, see for example this awesome NJ Advance Media article By Stephen Stirling with interactive satellite imagery before and after the Spring Hill Fire burned 11,600 acres last weekend; I need to warn you that you will have at least temporarily disable your ad blocker in order to see the article. However I can personally attest to seeing the Pine Barrens come back fairly quickly after a wildfire, this is the point of this article.

You may be interested in this short video report from NJ Network taken in 2008, a year after the 2007 Warren Grove Fire burned over 17,000 acres in the NJ Pine Barrens. You will see how the area burned had begun to regrow a year after the fire went through.


Direct link to video report from NJ Network

There is a good article from the NY Times published on September 25, 2018 (with photos) discussing how an area burned by a 860 acre in the NJ Pine Barrens in May 2018 had begun to regenerate by September. For those of you who are interested in the fire adapted ecosystem of the NJ Pine Barrens I found some information two evergreen trees that are commonly found in the NJ Pine Barrens and how they have adapted and even depend on fire to reproduce, the pitch pine and the shortleaf pine, and the Pinelands Alliance has a good fire ecology page (be warned that one of the videos  and the slide show requires the flash video plug-in which some of you may not want to use for security concerns).

I live a couple of hours away from the NJ Pine Barrens, I try to get down there at least once or twice a year. I usually drive by an area burned by the Warren Grove Fire a mile or south of the ignition point. I pull off in the pull off and take photos if I have my camera with me. The first three photos were taken in August 2008, about 15 months after the Warren Grove Fire. Note that you can see the cones on the dwarf pitch pines (aka pymgy pines) that only open after a fire. In the last picture you can still see evidence of the fire but of note is the growth that happened in the 15 months after the Warren Grove Fire.

Photo taken August 2008 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

Photo taken August 2008 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

Photo taken August 2008 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

In the following photo, taken at the same spot three years after the Warren Grove Fire, you can see the difference. You would hardly know that the area was burned in a wildfire three years prior.

Photo taken May 2010 at Stafford Forge (Rte 539 South), Warren Grove NJ 

Fire danger continues in New Jersey and NYC metropolitan area

The National Weather Service in Upton, New York has issued a Red Flag Warning for today, April 4th, from 10 AM to 8 PM. Note areas in pink in the image below are areas under a Red Flag Warning. The Albany area of New York, the rest of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and southern New Hamphsire are also under Red Flag Warnings today. The areas in New Jersey with the light brown color are not under Red Flag Warnings but will see enhanced fire weather conditions which I will elaborate at then end of this post following the information from NWS Upton.

Stay safe everyone. Thanks to all the firefighters who will be working to keep all of us safe from wildfires today.

Image obtained on April 4, 2019 at 11:20 AM from https://www.weather.gov/okx/

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service New York NY
427 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

...CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE SPREAD...

CTZ005>012-NJZ002-004-006-103>108-NYZ067>075-078>081-176>179-
042015-
/O.UPG.KOKX.FW.A.0002.190404T1200Z-190405T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KOKX.FW.W.0002.190404T1400Z-190405T0000Z/
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-
427 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST NEW YORK...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY...AND
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT...

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from 10 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT
this evening.

* Affected Areas...All of southeast New York, northeast New
  Jersey, and southern Connecticut.

* Timing...Late this morning into early this evening.

* Winds...Northwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Highest
  winds across southern Connecticut.

* Relative Humidity...10 to 15 percent.

* Impacts...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires if ignition
  occurs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected or occurring. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and dry fuels will create a significantly
elevated fire growth potential.

The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly NJ has issued a Special Weather Statement for elevated fire risk this afternoon due to low relative humidity and occasional wind gusts. In the image below, the areas shaded in light brown are under the Special Weather Statement.

Image obtained on April 4, 2019 at 11:20 AM from https://www.weather.gov/phi/

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
945 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

NJZ001-007>010-012>015-020-026-042300-
Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset-Middlesex-
Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Ocean-Coastal Ocean-
Including the cities of Newton, Washington, Morristown,
Flemington, Somerville, New Brunswick, Freehold, Sandy Hook,
Trenton, Jackson, and Long Beach Island
945 AM EDT Thu Apr 4 2019

...AN ENHANCED RISK OF WILDFIRE SPREAD THIS AFTERNOON...

Low relative humidity levels and occasional wind gusts near 20
MPH are anticipated for this afternoon in parts of northern and
central New Jersey. The expected conditions along with dry fine
fuels may create an elevated risk for the spread of wildfires.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions,
and wildfire prevention and education, please visit the state`s
environmental protection website.

2019 NJ Fire Season: Just in 660 acre fire in Burlington County

April 4th, 11 AM

I heard from my friends at NJFFS Section B10 earlier this morning that the fire was contained last night, and that the acreage burned may be around 660 acres, down from 1,200 acres. I just went to the Asbury Park Press who has updated their article on the fire this morning stating that the Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix-Lakehurst and the Pemberton Volunteer Fire Department issued statements that the fire is 100 percent contained at 660 acres. Roads in the area that were closed on Wednesday are now open albeit with some delays as firefighters continue to work in the area.. Firefighters will be monitoring the area burned for hotspots.

April 3rd, 10 PM

I was listening to the NJFFS Division B (central NJ) online scanner on and off all day. I knew about this online scanner through my friends at NJFFS Section B10, they post links to the scanners in all three divisions. I usually listen to Division B for the NJ Pine Barrens, but this scanner also covers some of Division A where I live. Anyway, as I was listening today, I did note some wildfire activity near the Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix Lakehurst near Pemberton NJ. I later heard reference that one of the NJ Forest Fire Service Huey Helicopters was requested. My friends at the NJFFS Section B10 gave me a heads up about the fire size (1,200 acres), they confirmed that the Huey and bucket flew the fire early (Delta 5). NJFFS crews were requested about 2:30 PM along with the Huey. At the time I wrote this there was no information about containment.

According to an Asbury Park Press report this evening that may be found here, there were road closures in place near the wildfire but there were no evacuations. According to the Joint Base Facebook Page, the fire originated on a training range on the base. The wildland firefighters on the ground (NJFFS, Joint Base crews, and mutual aid from nearby municipalities) will work through the night.

Red Flag Warnings in this area of New Jersey, originally set to expire at 9 PM, are now due to expire at 11 PM.

ABC6 in Philadelphia just posted a video of this from shot from their Helicopter, Chopper 6. I could not get their embed code to work, but here is a direct link to the video that I hope works.

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
854 PM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-040300-
/O.CON.KPHI.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-190404T0300Z/
Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset-Middlesex-
Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden-
Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May-
Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean-
Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton-
Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester-
Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks-
854 PM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey,

* TIMING...Until 11:00 PM this evening.

* WINDS...West 15 to 20 mph with gusts 25 to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 to 20 percent this evening,
  increasing overnight.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that will promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring or are imminent due to a combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels. Any fires that
develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to
contain.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions,
and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state
forestry or environmental protection website.

Red Flag Warnings: April 3rd

Red Flag Warings are in place today into this evening over areas of the mid-atlantic including New Jersey, eastern and central Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York City and environs and southern New York, and much of Maryland.

I know that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service will be on patrol today and all NJFFS towers will be staffed. I am sure that other State Fire Fighting agencies will also be on patrol today. Stay safe everyone.

I will do my best to try to monitor the situation in New Jersey and will report back about any significant wildfire activity.

In the image below, the pink/red color are red flag warnings.

Image from National Weather Service Mt. Holly NJ at 8:15 AM on April 3, 2019

Red Flag Warning

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
316 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

DEZ001>004-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-
101>106-032030-
/O.UPG.KPHI.FW.A.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KPHI.FW.W.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
New Castle-Kent-Inland Sussex-Delaware Beaches-Sussex-Warren-
Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset-Middlesex-Western Monmouth-
Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden-
Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May-
Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean-
Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton-
Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester-
Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks-
316 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 9 PM EDT
THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, MOST OF NEW JERSEY, AND DELAWARE...

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Red Flag
Warning for the potential of enhanced fire spread, which is in
effect from 10 AM this morning to 9 PM EDT this evening. The Fire
Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...The Poconos, Lehigh Valley, Berks County, and
  southeastern Pennsylvania. Also northwestern, central, and
  southern New Jersey and the entire state of Delaware.

* TIMING...From 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM Wednesday.

* WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Dropping into the 20 to 30 percent range.

* TEMPERATURES...Highs mainly in the 60s, with 50s in the Poconos
  and far northwest New Jersey.

* IMPACTS...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Any fires
that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult
to contain.

For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions,
and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state
forestry or environmental protection website.

Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service New York NY
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE SPREAD TODAY...

NJZ006-106-108-032015-
/O.UPG.KOKX.FW.A.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KOKX.FW.W.0001.190403T1600Z-190404T0600Z/
Hudson-Eastern Essex-Eastern Union-
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 2 AM EDT
THURSDAY FOR URBAN NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY...

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from noon today to 2 AM EDT Thursday.
The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Hudson, Eastern Essex, and Eastern Union
  counties in northeast New Jersey.

* Timing...This afternoon and into tonight.

* Winds...West 20 to 30 mph with gusts 45 to 50 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 17 percent.

* Impacts...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

* Impacts...Rapid fire spread possible if ignition occurs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected or occurring. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and dry fuels will create a significantly
elevated fire growth potential.


Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service New York NY
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FIRE SPREAD TODAY...

NJZ002-004-103>105-107-032015-
/O.UPG.KOKX.FW.A.0001.190403T1400Z-190404T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KOKX.FW.W.0001.190403T1600Z-190404T0300Z/
Western Passaic-Eastern Passaic-Western Bergen-Eastern Bergen-
Western Essex-Western Union-
420 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 11 PM EDT THIS
EVENING FOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY...

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Red Flag
Warning, which is in effect from noon today to 11 PM EDT this
evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* Affected Area...Bergen, Western Essex, Passaic, and Western
  Union counties in northeast New Jersey.

* Timing...This afternoon and evening.

* Winds...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts 45 to 50 mph.

* Relative Humidity...As low as 19 percent.

* Impacts...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions
  that may promote the rapid spread of wildfires.

* Impacts...Rapid fire spread possible if ignition occurs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are expected or occurring. A combination of strong winds, low
relative humidity, and dry fuels will create a significantly
elevated fire growth potential.

2019 NJ fire season: Spring Hill Fire human caused?

Updated at 9 PM on April 1st: Thanks to a friend from the NJFFS for pointing me to this press release from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection announcing that the Spring Hill Fire is fully contained. The press release does not specifically state the fire was human caused, rather it seems that they have ruled out a fire caused by power lines, prescribed burns and lightning. They are asking for the public to come forward if they have any information about the fire, all tips will be kept confidential.

4:50 PM on April 1st

There has been an investigation into the cause of the Spring Hill Fire that burned 11,600 acres on the border of Burlington and Ocean Counties this past weekend. The Asbury Park Press is reporting (April 1st, 3:18 PM):

The forest fire that ripped through more than 16 square miles of the Pinelands over the weekend was caused by human activity, according to state fire investigators. … Investigators were tight-lipped about the evidence that lead them to this determination, but said they could not yet determine whether a crime had been committed.

The Asbury Park Press goes on to report on where the fire started:

The area where the fire was sparked was described as an open, sandy area near Spring Hill Road in Woodland Township in Burlington County. 

Please read the Asbury Park Press article for more information. The Asbury Press Article includes a photo gallery along with some NJFFS drone footage over the fire area (over 12 minutes long, the direct link to the drone footage may found here.

I prepared a couple of images for you based on the information in the Asbury Park Press article, locating Spring Hill Road using the search feature on Google Earth. The first image is a close-up of the area that was discussed in the article. I circled a sandy area off of Spring Hill Road. As the fire is named Spring Hill Fire, I am thinking that the sandy area I circled off of Spring Hill Road is one candidate for where the fire started. And if I am wrong, it is in the general area.

The second image is an image where I zoomed out.

I am looking around for more photo galleries that I can share with you. There were some photo galleries attached to the news articles that I shared on March 31st, I will look around for more.

I want to close by sharing a video. This is a video report from News12 New Jersey, which does have a pay wall, so I hope that all of you can see the video. This video is from earlier today before the preliminary results of the investigation were in. Early on in the video you will see a couple of aerial shots of the fire area. In the event that the script code does not work here is a direct link to the video report from News 12 New Jersey, note the video is muted and you have to click on the microphone to hear the audio (sorry about that).

2019 NJ fire season: Spring Hill Fire (NJ) April 1st update

I wrote yesterday about the Spring Hill Fire that has burned approximately 11,600 acres in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (aka the New Jersey Pinelands) in Burlington and Ocean Counties NJ.  The wildfire is now 100 percent contained. However, there are still areas that continue to burn so the New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews will continue to monitor the fire for several days, see this article from the Asbury Park Press (April 1st, 9:35 AM) for more information.

The Spring Hill Fire was first reported on Saturday, March 30th in Penn State Forest in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. I have no specific information about the location of this wildfire, but I did go into Google Earth and using Google Earth's search feature, I located Penn State Forest for you.

All major roads in the area of the Spring Hill Fire (Routes, 72, 539, 532, and 563) were open Sunday evening, March 31st.

Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today beat me to the punch, he reported on the Spring Hill Fire in a March 30th article that he has been updating. Thank-you Bill for your great reporting and for bringing the news of the Spring Hill Fire to your readers from the United States and Canada and around the world.

Early this morning a friend of mine who lives in South Florida and knows of my writing, told me that the Sun Sentinel (Broward County FL) had an article reporting on the Spring Hill Fire. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a link for you, but will keep looking. However, I did see an article from ABC News on my news feed this morning reporting on the Spring Hill Fire. So, it would seem that the news of the Spring Hill Fire has hit the wire services.

It is with some consternation that I say that I am glad for the national reporting on the Spring Hill Fire. The reason being is that a 10,000 acre is indeed a very major wildfire in New Jersey. In the ten years that I have been writing this blog on aerial wildland firefighting and related issues, the largest fire that I recall in the NJ Pine Barrens that was fought by NJFFS crews was the 3,500 acre Penn Swamp fire of July 2017.  Amanda Hoover of New Jersey Advance Media wrote a nice article at the time focusing on eleven very major fires that burned in the NJ Pine Barrens (and elsewhere in NJ), this article may be found here. Amanda wrote of the 1963 Chatsworth fires that burned 190,000 acres and two wildfires that burned over 10,000 acres (approximately 17,000 acres in May 2007, "Warren Grove Fire" and a wildfire in 1995 that burned 15,000 acres in Ocean County NJ). The other eight fires she wrote about were under 3,000 acres. She did reference a 2016 article in Rolling Stone Magazine in her article. I read the Rolling Stone piece, by Kyle Dickman, when it came out and went back and reread the article last night. Kyle's article is well researched and I trust his figures. I was especially interested in what he wrote about the infrequent of wildfires over 1,000 acres in the New Jersey Pinelands (what I refer to as the NJ Pine Barrens):

Over the past century, roughly 100,000 wildfires have burned in the Pinelands. According to a smaller state catalog of significant wildfires since 1905, firefighters or weather stopped all but 19 before they reached 1,000 acres, and only 10 grew beyond 10,000 acres. Just two became biblical blazes that torched more than 150,000 acres each.

One of the biblical blazes that Kyle referred to are the 1963 Chatsworth fires, I am not quite when what the other one is, perhaps in the first half of the twentieth century.

A friend of mine from the National Weather Service who is also a fire weather expert just sent me a link to a site from the Storm Prediction Center which displays the probability of wildfires of 100, 300, 1,000 or 5,000 acres. I am still getting used to this site, this is the link that he sent me. I saved a screen shot for you showing the probability on April 5th of a wildfire over 1,000 acres occurring in the Continental United States. As you can see the probability of such a fire occurring in New Jersey is very low (about 2 percent). As I understand it, you move forward and back in time by clicking on step at the upper right.

screen image taken on April 1, 2019 at 9:45 AM from https://www.spc.noaa.gov/new/FWclimo/climo.php?parm=1000ac