New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Awards to Seven Interagency Partners

You may recall that I wrote the post on September 22nd on the $3 million dollar increase to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for investment to replace some of their trucks, hire additional full time workers and additional contracted air support services, linking to a September 21st news release announcing this boost to the NJFFS budget. I knew at this time that when the NJFFS announced this budget boost that they also announced awards to seven Interagency Partners for their work during the spring 2023 wildfire season:

• Christopher Warwick, Trooper II, New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management
• Michael Mastronardy, Sheriff, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department
• Kristen Carr, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, Burlington County Office of Emergency Management
• Stephen J. Letts, Captain, Fire Investigations K9 Unit, New Jersey State Fire Marshal's Office
• Whiting Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
• West Milford Fire Companies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

In addition to the awards to the seven Interagency Partners, Caryn Shinske, "DEP Senior Press Officer Caryn Shinske was given the Smokey Bear Award for Journalism in the Service of Wildfire Prevention in recognition of her work coordinating and facilitating media requests involving the Forest Fire Service." 

When I write about wildfires whether they be in New Jersey or elsewhere, I always try to be mindful of the work of that partners and/or mutual aid do while working with the wildfire crews to work a wildfire. What these partners and/or mutual aid personnel do is very important. Kudos to all partners and mutual aid. 

Towards the end of the spring wildfire season in New Jersey I reached out with a questions, probably via social media. Ms. Shinske got back to me promptly and answered my questions. A shot out to Ms. Shinske for getting back to me while responding to multiple news outlets.

I am embedding the Facebook Post from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service referring to the September 21st DEP press release. Click on "see more" to see the entire post.