2023 New Jersey Wildfire Season: NJ Forest Fire Service and Local First Responders Working Together

 

For the last couple of weeks I have been reflecting on the important role that first responders e.g. -- local fire companies, police, and other local first responders -- work together with wildland firefighters from the NJ Forest Fire Service in putting out wildfires. Sometimes these smaller fires are referred to as brushfires.  In many cases, the brush fire might be on the small size, from an acre or two to ten acres or so. I know that no matter the size of the brush fire that there is often a call for mutual aid from local municipalities to help the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Or perhaps the first responder is from the local fire company where the assistance of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is requested. 

I have been keeping my eyes open for a report of a brushfire where local firsts responders and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded. I found the Facebook post about the brush fire in Mansfield Township on March 21st where a brush fire was burning in heavy downed trees requiring over three hours to contain the fire. 

I sometimes fall to acknowledge the important role of these local first responders who work with the NJ Forest Fire Service. My point with this post is to give a special shout out to all the first responders (fire companies, police, and ambulance squads) who do important work on brush fires and the larger wildfires.  The larger wildfires often make the local news outlets but not so with the smaller brush fires. 

Thank-you Tri-County Volunteer Fire Company, Mansfield Township Township Fire Company, Mansfield Township Police,  and Independence First Aid Squad for the work you did yesterday in containing this brush fire and in the case of the police department and ambulance squad in supporting the firefighters.