2020 wildfire season: update on NJ Forest Fire Service deployments in western US (Sept 1st)

I want to provide a brief update to what I know about New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) deployments in the western United States where they are helping fight wildfires. I last wrote about these deployments on August 28th. Before I get to New Jersey's deployments, I want to point out that when I was checking the Eastern Area Coordination Center's (EACC) website today (information updated frequently), specifically their resource summary page. The states in the Eastern Area are well represented in deployments in the western U.S. Point being is that New Jersey is but one of the states in the EACC sending crews and/or engines out west. For a listing of the states and agencies in the EACC, go here.

The NJ Pinelands Module, aka NJ-NJS#3, a 10-person crew, is being demobilized and will return home soon. They spent two weeks working wildfires in Wyoming and more recently in South Dakota, thanks to my friends at the NJFFS Section B-10 website for this information (site updated frequently, so what you see may be different).

Regarding other NJFFS deployments, there is a nice article from the NJ Herald (August 27). According to this article, five (I think) NJFFS engines have been deployed to California, Colorado, and Nevada and smaller two person crews are in Montana and California doing specialized tasks. The article interviewed Gregory McLaughlin who heads the NJ Forest Fire Service, McLauglin provided some insight into the two-week deployments of 10-person modules:

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also extra precautions being taken as well. Instead of 20 people in a “hand crew,” the number has been cut to 10. Those going are isolated in New Jersey for a couple of days and tested for the virus.

Once it’s determined where the crews will go - they are dispatched by e-mails - they work remotely, taking with them their own food, water and equipment.

“Normally, there were large camps set up and teams would go out from there,” the chief explained. The precautions also cut the number of people going with an engine, from four to three.

Teams are also bringing their own hand tools and efforts are made to keep people within their own units.

At the scene, firefighters work 16-hour shifts on work ranging from face-to-face fire fighting, to creating fire breaks by intentionally setting fires or cutting down trees and “mop-up” operations which ensure there are no hot-spots which can flare up.

I continue to be thankful for all of you from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and any other firefighters from other agencies based in New Jersey who are helping out with the wildfires in the western United States. You honor us with your service. Stay safe. 

As I can do so reliably, I will try to provide updates on these deployments.