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
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