2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Jennings Creek Wildfire Passaic (NJ) and Orange (NY) Counties: Update #2

For my earlier reports on the Jennings Creek Wildfire see these posts:

• November 11th
• November 10th
• November 9th

November 13th, 7:10 PM

Scroll down to see my early updates from this morning and the evening of November 12th.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any local media who covered today's press conference with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. I am disappointed because I would of liked to share it with you. Anyway, the NJ Forest Fire Service reports in tonight's update that acreage burned in New Jersey remains at 2,283 acres, acreage burned in New York is not available from the sources I have access to. I just found an article on NJ Advance Media (updated at 7 PM on November 13th), they are reporting that the NY side of the wildfire has burned 2,100 acres, I am mentioning this figure because in reading the updated article, it sounded like the reporters were at today's joint press conference. Containment fire-wide in New Jersey and New York has increased to fifty percent. Local road closures continue as to hiking trail closures. Threatened structures in New Jersey has decreased to two residential structures, down from ten. The number of any structures threatened on the New York side is not available from my sources. I forgot to mention yesterday that two New Jersey firefighters were injured one with smoke inhalation who was treated at a hospital and the other with an injury that was treated on site and he returned to duty. Direct link to Facebook post from the NJ Forest Fire Service with this evening's update shown below.

November 13th, 11:10 AM

Scroll down to see my update from the evening of November 12th.

No changes in the status of the Jennings Creek from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Containment over the entire wildfire area in NJ and NY is at 30 percent. Acreage burned in New Jersey remains at 2,283 acres, information from the NY side of the wildfire is not available. Local road closures continue as do closures of hiking trails near the wildfire. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation will host a press conference at 12 PM today. I do not think it will be streamed, but I will look at local media for videos of the press conference and if I find any I will post them in a new post this evening. Direct link to this morning's update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service shown below.

November 12th, 6:45 PM

I watched a video of the press conference the given by the NJ Forest Fire Service and local officials on the Jennings Creek Fire. I took some notes.  Due to the winds from today's red flag conditions, they NJFFS did not conduct any burn out operations, but they do have boots on the ground building line. The fire is burning in a very remote, rock, difficult to access "wilderness area". There has been progress made by NJ crews in suppressing the fire. Forty-eight apparatus from 5 counties are assisting in the fire. NJ did surveillance of the fire in the air, satellite imagery, and boots on the ground, 2,283 acres have burned in NJ, they did not have numbers for NY at the time of the press conference. You might want to check out the video of the press conference from Fox5NY (embedded below), allow about 12 minutes for the video

I also watched a 17 minute video of a press conference by NY Governor Kathy Hochul and NY officials discussing the NY side of the Jennings Creek Fire. 

Direct link to video from CBS New York on YouTube

Moving on to this evenings update from the NJ Forest Fire Service. As a result of better mapping of the fire from surveillance has resulted in arriving at  2,283 acres burned in the New Jersey side (Passaic County) of the Jennings Creek Wildfire. I heard this in this afternoon's press conference. Acreage burned in the New York side (Orange County) of the wildfire is not available. Over the whole Jennings Creek Wildfire (NJ & NY), there is 30 percent containment, up from 20 percent. Two residential structures in New Jersey are threatened and eight structures in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District are threatened, there are no evacuations. One local road is closed and hiking trails in the vicinity of the wildfire are closed. The NJ Forest Fire Service has a helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket. I think but am not certain that New York has four helicopters, I am not certain of the size of the buckets. Direct link to Facebook post from the NJ Forest Fire Service with this evening's update shown below

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Jennings Creek Wildfire Passaic (NJ) and Orange (NY) Counties: Line of Duty Death

A young man, 18-year old Dariel Vasquez, was killed by a fallen tree on Saturday will fighting the Jennings Creek Fire on the New York side of the wildfire in Sterling Forest. The PIX 11 report says that he is still a high school senior and played baseball. However, I saw another report that says that he has graduated from high school. In any event, this is very sad. A young man just getting started is dead while working to save others. His family organized a GoFundMe page in his memory raising over $70,000 in a few hours, donations are disabled as I write this. For more information see this report from PIX 11 New York.

RIP Dariel, my prayers go out to your family, friends and all who love you.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Jennings Creek Wildfire Passaic (NJ) and Orange (NY) Counties: Update #1

For my earlier reports on the Jennings Creek Wildfire see these posts:

• November 10th
• November 9th

November 12, 9 AM

No changes in the numbers for the Jennings Creek Wildfire from the NJ Forest Fire Service's morning update on Facebook (shared below). As of 9 AM the Jennings Creek Wildfire has burned 3,500 acres and is 20 percent contained. In response to questions in their morning update on Facebook about the acres burned by the Jennings Creek Wildfire, the NJ Forest Fire Service said 

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service anticipates that the Jennings Creek Wildfire will grow to at least 5,000 acres before reaching 100% containment. However, the most recent mapping conducted by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service indicates the fire currently spans 3,500 acres in both New Jersey and New York. Rainfall slowed the fire’s growth overnight from Sunday, Nov. 10, into Monday, Nov. 11. As forest fuels dry out and the main body of the fire continues to spread, and the Forest Fire Service conducts burnout operations to aid containment, the fire’s size is expected to increase.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect for the fire area, Orange County NY and Passaic County NJ until 6 PM on November 12th. Road and trail closures continue and 10 structures are threatened in New Jersey, 2 are residences. I do not know if the 14 structures 0n the NY side of the wildfire remain threatened. Helicopters with buckets continue to work the fire as long as winds today will allow. 

November 11, 7 PM

You may want to go to my November 10th post on this wildfire where I made three entries with November 10th updates and a fourth entry for the November 11th morning update

Direct link to video from CBS New York on YouTube

Before I discuss this evenings update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, I want to comment that I listened to two videos of two press conferences with officials overseeing this fire, both are from CBS New York, an 18 minute video of a press conference with NY officials and an 11 minute video with NJ officials, both occurred today, November 11th. I noted that the NY official said that they had done aerial reconnaissance this morning mapping the fire at 5,000 acres in both states. The NJ official had not yet discussed the aerial reconnaissance and could not address the question of the New York official saying the wildfire had burned 5,000 acres, he was sticking to the 3,000 acre figure. Note that the media is reporting the 5,000 acres burned figure. The NJ official said that because of difficulty accessing the rough terrain where the fire is burning that they were not sure where the fire started, this is different from what I reported in my 7 PM  update. I will speculate is that it is still too early since the fire started to know these details for sure. In following wildfires for years, I do know that fire size can vary as they get better mapping and the like. As they say, more will be revealed.

Looking at the 7PM update from the NJ Forest Fire Service on Facebook (embedded below) at least 3,500 acres have burned (up from 3,000 acres earlier this morning) and containment has increased to 20 percent. Ten structures in New Jersey are threatened with no evacuations. There are local road closures. I am uncertain about the status 14 threatened structures in New York referred to in earlier updates. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management are in unified command, meaning that both states work together and coordinate their efforts. There are a few helicopters with buckets, one from New Jersey with a 350 gallon bucket, working this fire in support of the crews on the ground. Local fire departments from both states are also onsite.

Veterans Day

 I thank all veterans for your service to this country

Summary of 2024 New Jersey Fall Wildfire Season

As many of you know the fall of 2024 has been the worst wildfire season New Jersey has seen in over one hundred years. According to a November 10th press conference by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service that I watched on the evening of November 10th, there were 537 wildfires in New Jersey in October burning 4,500 acres. This video is an update on the Jennings Creek Wildfire but part way through the video they mention the October numbers. 

The idea behind this blog entry is to have a summary of the 2024 NJ Fall Wildfire Season that is more permanent that I can highlight on the right side of the main page of my blog and update as appropriate. I am going to list the wildfires that I know about from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Facebook page. Unless otherwise noted, the NJ Forest Fire issued a final incident report on the wildfire and will continue to monitor each wildfire. There are a lot of smaller wildfires that burned in New Jersey that I do not know about. The links for each fire, should lead to the last post I made on this fire which refers to the NJFFS final incident report for that wildfire.

I only recently learned that the embed code provided by Facebook that I use to share updates from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Facebook page do not work on cell phones. I have edited the posts that I link to below to include a direct link to the appropriate update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service on Facebook. 

• Tamarac Wildfire, Medford Township, Burlington County, 30 acres
• Brendon T. Byrne State Forest, Pemberton Township, Burlington County, 35 acres
• Microwave Wildfire, Rockaway Township, Morris County, 77 acres
• Industrial Parkway Wildfire, Livingston, Essex County, 192 acres
• Evesham Township, Burlington County, 40 acres
• Halloween Wildfire, Evesham Township, Burlington County, 137 acres
• Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire, Morris County, 202 acres
• Wharton State Forest, Waterford Township, Camden County, 45 acres
• Bethany Run Wildfire, Burlington and Camden Counties,  360 acres
• Shotgun Wildfire, Jackson Township, Ocean County, 350 acres
• Pheasant Run Wildfire, Glassboro Wildlife Management Area, 133 acres. Smoke from the Pheasant Run Wildfire set off smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in Glassboro, NJ the weekend of Nov 9th and 10th see this NJ Advance Media article.
• Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County, 39 acres
• Cannonball 3 Wildfire, Pompton Lakes, Passaic County, 181 acres
• Jennings Creek Wildfire, Passaic County NJ and Orange County NY, as of 11/12 at 6:45 PM  2,283 acres have burned in New JErsey, acreage burned in New York is not available, there is 30 percent containment fire-wide. There was one line of duty death

 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Jennings Creek Wildfire, Passaic County NJ & Orange County NY: Fatality and Update

November 11, 10:30 AM

The numbers on the Jennings Creek Wildfire are unchanged from the evening of November 10th; 3,000 acres have burned, the fire is at 10 percent containment and twenty-five structures are threatened. Some rain fell on this fire last night, not enough to extinguish the fire but the showers did provide a much needed rest for some of the wildland firefighters working this fire, crews are back on the fire today. A helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket will be working the fire today. Scroll down to see yesterday's updates and a video of yesterday's press conference. Direct link to NJFFS Facebook post shown below.

November 10th, 7:00 PM

Direct link to video from CBS 2 New York on YouTube

The Jennings Creek Fire has burned 3,000 acres in Orange County, New York and Passaic County, New Jersey. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management are in unified command on this wildfire. Currently the wildfire is at 10 percent containment The wildfire started in New York on Saturday and the north wind blew the fire into New Jersey into a difficult to access area. Structure protection is ongoing. There are no evacuations at this time in either New York or New Jersey. The video from LiveNOW from Fox that I embedded above covers 14 minutes of a press conference from earlier this afternoon about the Jennings Creek Wildfire. It is worth the time to listen to if you want to learn some details about the wildfire. Direct link to NJFFS Facebook post shown below.

November 10th, 2:50 PM

I begin with the very sad news that one firefighter from the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department died on the afternoon of November 9th while working the Jennings Creek Fire in the New York side of the wildfire

Acreage burned has increased to 2,500 acres while the number of threatened structures has increased to twenty-five (from 10 yesterday). At the time of the NJ Forest Fire Service update about three hours ago, there were no evacuations. Local road and trail closures continue. A helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket is working the fire. This fire crossed the State line from Orange County, New York to Passaic County, New Jersey sometime on Saturday, November 9th. Direct link to NJFFS Facebook post shown below.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Cannonball 3 Wildfire, Passaic County - Update & Final Report

November 10th, 9:00 PM

The 181 acre Cannonball 3 Wildfire reached 100 percent containment at 6:30 PM thanks to the good work of the New Jersey Forest Fire wildland firefighters, local fire departments, and the work of helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket. Thanks to all of you for your hard work on containing this fire. No structures were destroyed or damaged and no one was injured.The NJ Forest Fire Service will be monitoring this fire over next several days to and shore up containment lines. Direct link to NJFFS Facebook post shown below.

November 10th, 2:45 PM

At the time the NJ Forest Fire Service made their morning update on the Cannonball 3 Wildfire at about 10:30 AM there has been no significant change in acres burned and containment since the evening of November 9th, see my November 9th post on the Cannonball 3 Wildfire for yesterday's updates. This wildfire has burned 175 acres and remains at 75 percent containment. Fifty-five structures were threatened. All lanes on Interstate 287 have reopened. Cannonball Road at Dupont Place was still closed. Direct link to Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Jennings Creek Wildfire, Passaic County NJ & Orange County NY (Initial Post)

November 10, 6:40 AM

One firefighter has died in New York fighting the Jennings Creek Wildfire. Direct link to Facebook post from the Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue show below.

NJ Advance Media report late Saturday, September 9th.

November 9, 8:30 PM

Direct link to Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below

November 9, 2:30 PM

This just in, another new wildfire, the Jennings Creek Wildfire has burned 1,800 acres in West Milford, Passaic County NJ and in Orange County, NY. There is no containment. Ten structures are threatened, two residences and 8 structures in the Long Pond Ironworks Historic District. A helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket. There are local road closures and all trails in the Long Pond Ironworks State Park and Tranquility Ridge are closed. NorthJersey dot com has a recent article about this fire that may be found here; in addition they have some photos and a short video of the Cannonball 3 Wildfire that is burning in Pompton Plains, Passaic County. NBC 4 NY has an article about todays new wildfires (including the Jennings Creek Wildfire) and other recent wildfires that may be found on this webpage. Direct link to Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Update & Final Report - Bergen County, Englewood Cliffs

November 9th, 8:30 PM

The fire in Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County has burned 39 acres and is at 75 percent containment. This is the final incident update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Direct link to Facebook Post from the NJFFS shown below.

November 9th, 9:00 AM

If you may want to review the post I made on November 8th (including videos) on the fire burning in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County go here.

The current status of this fire at the time I write this on November 9th at 9AM is that the fire remains at 39 acres burned with containment at 40 percent, up from 30 percent on Nov. 8th. There is one road closure. Direct link to Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Cannonball 3 Wildfire, Passaic County (Initial Post)

November 9, 8:30 PM

Scroll down for earlier updates at 3:30 PM, 10 AM and 6:45 AM. At 8:30 PM the fire has burned 175 acres and is at 75 percent containment. Fifty-five structures are threatened. Direct link to the Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below

November 9, 3:30 PM

Direct link to video from Freedom News TV on YouTube Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for sharing this video.

Scroll down for updates from earlier today (10 AM and 6:45 AM)

The Cannonball 3 Wildfire has burned 164 acres and is at 50 percent containment. Fifty-five structures are still threatened, but there are no evacuations. NorthJersey dot com has an article published this afternoon with photos of the Cannonball 3 Wildfire, they are also reporting on the Jennings Creek Wildfire that is burning in West Milford, Passaic County NJ and Orange County NY in that same article which may be found here. NBC 4 NY has an article about todays new wildfires (including the Cannonball 3 Wildfire) and other recent wildfires that may be found on this webpage. Please see the Direct link to the Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below

November 9, 10:00 AM

The Cannonball 3 Wildfire has grown to 100 acres and is still not contained. Fifty-five structures remain threatened but there are still no evacuation orders. The right lane of Interstate 287 is closed and a local road (Cannonball Road at Dupont Place) is closed. Local fire departments are providing structure protection. Scroll down for an earlier update. Direct link to the Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below.

November 9, 6:45 AM

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service made its first post on the Cannonball 3 Wildfire late last night, I won't embed that here but if you want to look at it, you may find it here.  

At the time I write this at 6:45 AM, the Cannonball 3 Wildfire has burned 75 acres in Pompton Plains, Passaic County. There is no containment. Fifty-five structures are threatened but there are no evacuations at this time. There are no road closures that I am aware of, but travelers on Interstate 287 near where the Interstate intersects with the Wanaque River may see smoke. I have not yet seen any media reports on this wildfire. I saw a spectacular photo of this fire on social media this morning, a photo taken of the fire from Interstate 287 last night, it is not my place to share it with you but I am sure that between the media and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service there will be photos of this fire available later.

Thanks to the New Jersey Forest Fire for your work on this fire. I know how busy you have been the past couple of weeks during this extreme fall wildfire season. I am very proud of you.

Direct link to the Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season Final Updates: Bethany Run, Shotgun, and Pheasant Run Wildfires

I am posting final updates from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for the three wildfires (Bethany Run, Shotgun, and Pheasant Run Wildfires that I reported on in a post earlier in the day on November 8. I am not sure I can adequately express how very grateful I am for the very hard work that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service with the assistance of local fire departments and emergency responders have done in working these and all the smaller wildfires that we do not know about. No structures lost, no injuries and no lives lost. Well done NJFFS crews and local responders, well done! Hats off to you.

Bethany Run Wildfire (Burlington and Gloucester Counties)

Ninety percent containment was achieved at about 6:30 PM on November 8th. The fire burned 360 acres in Evesham Townships and Voorhees Township in Burlington and Camden Counties. There were twelve residences under evacuation orders and 104 structures were threatened. Evacuation orders have been lifted and no structures are threatened. Direct link to Facebook post from the NJFFS shown below.

Shotgun Wildfire (Ocean County)

This 350 acre wildfire is now at 90 percent containment. At one time 25 structures were threatened and 15 residences were evacuated. Evacuation orders have been lifted and structures are no longer threatened. Road closures were still in place on the evening of November 8th and the closures will be reevaluated as time goes on. Direct link to Facebook post by the NJFFS shown below.

Pheasant Run Wildfire (Gloucester County)

The Pheasant Run Wildfire has burned 133 acres and is at 75 percent containment on November 8th.. Smoke from the Pheasant Run Wildfire set off smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in Glassboro, NJ the weekend of Nov 9th and 10th see this NJ Advance Media article. 

Direct link to Facebook post by the NJFFS shown below.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Seasons: 11/8 Updates: Bethany Run, Shotgun, and Pheasant Run Wildfires

I was remiss in my first versions of this post in not acknowledging the hard work of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. I am giving a big shout out to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service whose crews have been working very hard the last couple of weeks during an unprecedented fall wildfire season. I am very proud of you and I hope that my efforts in posting on the major wildfires they have been fighting honor your hard work and the hard work of the local fire departments who have helped you by providing structure protection on some of the wildfires. There are many smaller wildfires that they have been fighting that I don't know about. Kudos to you. 

With multiple wildfires that I am reporting on today, I want to try to keep things simple. This post will serve to provide November 8th updates from the NJ Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) on the following wildfires: 

• Bethany Run Wildfire (Burlington and Ocean Counties)
• Shotgun Wildfire (Ocean County)
• Pheasant Run Wildfire (Gloucester County)

The video below is from Fox 29 Philadelphia posted the evening of November 7th, where you will see New Jersey Forest Fire officials providing updates on these three wildfires. Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who shared this video on their website today.

You may use the links at the top of this post for earlier information on these wildfires, and I urge you to click on the relevant  NJFFS Facebook posts below for additional current information on each wildfire.

Bethany Run Wildfire Update #1
November 8, 10 AM

Shotgun Wildfire Ocean County Update #2

November 8, 10:30 AM

Pheasant Run Wildfire (Burlington and Camden Counties)

November 8, 10:30 AM

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Bergen County, Englewood Cliffs (Initial Post)

November 8th, 2:50 PM

Direct link to video from CBS New York on YouTube from their Noon coverage

The wildfire that is currently burning on the Englewood Cliffs along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Bergen County has burned 39 acres and remains at 30 percent containment. With today's red flag conditions in New Jersey (including Bergen County in Northeast New Jersey), I can appreciate the challenges facing the NJ Forest Fire Service crews as they fight this wildfire. While the wildfire has gown in size from 19 to 39 acres, I want to give a shot out to the NJ Forest Fire Service for keeping containment at 30 percent in terrain that is not easily accessible. I am glad that a helicopter with a 350 gallon is working this fire to help the crews on the ground, Hopefully, the winds will not prevent the helicopter from continuing to fly this fire for the rest of the day. You will see some footage of the helicopter in the video that I embedded in this 2:50 PM update

November 8th, 8:20 AM

The wildfire is located on the Englewood Cliffs which are on the west side of the Palisades Interstate Parkway in NJ. The Hudson River is on the east side of the Parkway.

Direct link to video from CBS New York on YouTube Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who shared this video on their website today.

I woke up today to learn of a fourth wildfire alert from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, this one is burning on the Englewood Cliffs, a hiking and recreation area, off of the Palisades Interstate Parkway in New Jersey. As many of you know, the Englewood Cliffs are not far from the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, north of the George Washington Bridge. It has been years since I have driven on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, but I do recall how striking the Cliffs are. A helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket will be working this fire this morning. The wildfire has burned 19 acres and is at 30 percent containment.

This is the fourth active wildfire in New Jersey that I am reporting on. I will update this page with updates. I will be updating on each of the three wildfires that I wrote about on November 7th later on today.

• Pheasant Run Wildfire (Gloucester County)
• Bethany Run Wildfire (Camden and Burlington Counties
• Shotgun Fire (Ocean County)

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Pheasant Run Wildfire, Gloucester County (Initial Post)

November 7, 2024, 5:30 PM

A busy 24 hours, this is the third major fire that I know of from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reports. The Pheasant Run Wildfire is burning in the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Gloucester County. Scroll down for my 6:45 PM update.

November 7, 6:45 PM

The Pheasant Run Wildfire has burned 133 acres and is at 35 percent containment. No structures are threatened or evacuated. There is one road closure in the area. November 8th updates on the Pheasant Run Wildfire may be found on this post on my blog, just scroll until you see the Pheasant Run Wildfire.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Bethany Run Wildfire, Burlington and Camden Counties (Initial Post)

November 7th, 11:10 AM

This just in. Yet another wildfire in Evesham Township (Kettle Run section) in Burlington County. This is the second wildfire in Evesham Township that I have reported on in the last ten days. I made a final report on the (unnamed) 40-acre wildfire that burned in Evesham Township on October 30th-31st, go here to read that post.

Scroll down for later updates on the Bethany Run Wildfire at 12:40 PM,  3:30 PM, 6:55 PM and 8:35 PM. 

November 8th updates on the Bethany Run Wildfire may be found on this post on my blog, just scroll until you see the Bethany Run Wildfire.

November 7th, 12:40 PM

I just got back from my walk and saw an update on this fire from the NJ Forest Fire Service. They said that their initial report (see above) indicated it was in the Kettle Run section of Evesham Township. They have updated their report saying that the Bethany Run Wildfire is burning on the border of Camden and Burlington Counties in Evesham and Voorhees Townships. The fire has burned 75 acres and is not contained. A helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket is working the fire in support of the NJ Forest Fire Service Wildland firefighters on the ground and any local fire companies that may respond later. Ninety-seven structures are threatened with 10 being evacuated. ABC 6 in Philadelphia posted a report on this fire a short time ago, go here to read their report and see a video.

November 7th, 3:30 PM

Acreage burned is 200 acres, no containment. Structure protection is being provided by local fire departments in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties. Road closures are still in effect. Twelve structures have been evacuated.

November 7, 6:55 PM

Good news, all evacuation orders were lifted as of 6:30 pm on November 7. 

November 7, 8:35 PM

Progress is being made, 300 acres burned at 50 percent containment. One hundred four structures remain threatened. No evacuations, evacuation orders were lifted at 6 PM. November 8th updates on this wildfire may be found on this post on my blog, just scroll until you see the Bethany Run Wildfire.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Shotgun Wildfire, Jackson Twshp, Ocean County (Update #1)

November 7, 6:40 PM

Progress continues, the Shotgun Wildfire is at 60 percent containment. Acreage burned has increased to 350 acres. Six Structures remain threatened and Stump Tavern Road is still closed. Scroll down for my 11 AM update. 

November 8th updates on the Shotgun Wildfie may be found on this post on my blog, just scroll until you see the Shotgun Wildfire.

November 7th, 11 AM

Direct link to video from NJ.com on YouTube

Direct link to video from CBS 2 New York (Nov. 6th report)

Progress has made in fighting the Shotgun Wildfire, the fire has burned 300 acres and is at 40 percent containment. Six structures are threatened, down from 25 yesterday. Evacuees were allowed back to their homes at 9 PM last night. Stump Tavern Road is still closed. My initial post on this fire may be found here. 

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Shotgun Wildfire, Jackson Twshp, Ocean County (Initial Post)

November 6, 8 PM

According to the 7:45 PM update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, New Jersey Forest Fire Service wildland firefighters with the assistance of local and county fire fighters are making progress on the Shotgun Fire in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in Jacksont Township, Ocean County. The fire has burned 175 acres and is at 20 percent containment. There is one road closure near the fire, Stump Tavern Road. There are six residential evacuations on the west side of Stump Tavern Road with voluntary evacuations on the east side. Twenty-five structures are threatened.There is an evacuation center set up. CBS 3 in Philadelphia has an updated report on the Shotgun Fire (with a video). Scroll down for my reports from earlier today.

November 6, 6:40 PM

The Forest Fire Service had a press conference late this afternoon. I understand from a news report from a reliable news station that there is an evacuation set up for those who have to evacuate their houses. At this time the Forest Fire Service is projecting that the fire will be about 300 acres. I am sorry that I can not link to this news station, but I have been getting suspicious warnings about this website and do not want to risk your safety. I am sure that other news sites will have updated reports later and I am awaiting the next update from the Forest Fire Service, hopefully later tonight. In the meantime, here is a video from CBS 3 in Philadelphia that appears to be taken from a helicopter, there is no sound. Thanks to my friends from the B10 New Jersey Wildfire Page for the video.

Direct link to video from CBS 3 Philadelphia

November 6, 2:30 PM 

This just in. Evacuations under way. Forest Fire Service helicopter is making observations.

Media reports: 

• 6ABC Action News (with video)
• NJ Advance Media
• Asbury Park Press (might be a firewall?)

2024 Wildfire Season: More Wildfires in MA, PA, and NYC (Nov 5 and 6)

 I was focusing on wildfires in New Jersey for the last few days on my blog, however, I want to assure you that I am aware of high wildfire danger elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic on the Northeastern United States. To that end, I will share three videos that my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page shared yesterday and today. These videos cover specific wildfires but I am certain that there are other wildfires in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. I am not sure about New York City.

1. I start with Pennsylvania

Direct link to video from PA Homepage on YouTube

2. Progress being made on a wildfire in Massachusetts

Direct link to video from Western Mass News on YouTube

3. Wildfires in large parks in New York City

Direct link to video from PIX 11 News on YouTube

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Wharton State Forest, Camden County (Final Update)

The 45 acre wildfire that is burning in Wharton State Forest in Camden County reached 90 percent containment on November 5th at 9 AM. Kudos to the NJ Forest Fire Service for working this fire. This is the final incident update. Direct link to Facebook post from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service shared below

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Wharton State Forest, Camden County (Initial Post)

November 4th, 12:40 PM

I was out for a couple of hours this morning and when I returned to my home office I saw this report from the NJ Forest Fire Service on a wildfire that is currently burning in the Wharton State Forest in Waterford Township, Camden County. I am not sure when this fire was first reported, but the post from the NJ Forest Fire Service was around 11 AM on November 4th. NJ Forest Fire Service wildland firefighters are at the fire assessing the situation and starting to build containment lines.

November 4, 5:30 PM

The wildfire has burned 45 acres and is at 50 percent containment. No structures are threatened and there are no road closures. Kudos to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Halloween Wildfire, Cumberland County: Final update

This is (hopefully) the final update for the Halloween Fire that burned 137 acres in Downe Township, Cumberland County. The fire is at 90 percent containment at 6 PM on Sunday, November 3rd. The NJ Forest Fire Service will be on the scene for several days to monitor the fire and improve containment lines. Earlier posts on the Halloween Fire may be found in my November 3rd post.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire, Morris County, Final Update Nov 3rd

This is (hopefully) the final update from the NJ Forest Fire Service on the Craigmeur Lookout Fire in Rockaway Township, Morris County. See my November 2nd post on this fire for earlier updates, a video and links to my earlier posts. As of 5:30 PM, the 202 acre fire was at 85 percent containment. The NJ Forest Fire Service will remain at the scene of the fire strengthen containment lines and monitor the fire. There were no injuries and no damage to any houses that were threatened or evacuated. Smoke is expected to remain until there is significant rainfall. Kudos to the New Jersey Forest Fire wildland firefighters and the firefighters from local fire departments in Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Sussex Warren, and Morris Counties who fought the fire.  Direct link to Facebook post from the NJFFS shared below.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Halloween Wildfire, Cumberland County Nov 3rd update

The Halloween Fire, first response on Oct 31st continues to burn in Cumberland County. I continued to post on this fire on Nov 1st and Nov 2nd (with a video). The status of the fire is unchanged from Nov 2nd, 120 acres burned at 75 percent containment.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Halloween Wildfire, Cumberland County Nov 2nd update

Direct link to video from 6ABC Philadelphia on YouTube

November 2nd, 8:50 PM

Containment on the Halloween Fire currently burning in Cumberland County is up to 75 percent. Kudos to the NJFFS Wildland firefighters working this fire.

November 2nd, 10:50 AM

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues their response to the Halloween Fire that is still burning in Downe Twshp in Cumberland County. The fire remains at 120 acres burned with containment increasing to 60 percent.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire, Morris County (Update # 3 Nov 2nd)

November 2nd, 9 PM

Direct link to video from CBS 2 NY on YouTube

NJ Forest Fire Service wildland firefighters and firefighters from Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Sussex, Morris, and Warren Counties continue to work the Craigmeur Lookout Fire. Progress was made today as the number of threatened structures is down to 1 from 16 structures earlier today. The acreage burned is now at 211 acres with containment at 50 percent. See my post on the evening of November 1st for earlier information about this fire.

November 2nd 10:10 AM

The Craigmeur Lookout Fire that is still burning in Rockaway Township, Morris County. As of the 10 AM update from the NJ Forest Fire Service, the fire has burned 170 acres and is at 50 percent containment. Evacuation orders that were in place on November 1st have been lifted. Sixteen structures are threatened. One helicopter with a 350 gallon bucket is working the fire. Structure protection is being provide by fire department from Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Sussex, Morris and Warren counties. The cause is currently under investigation.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire, Morris County (update #2)

 

November 1, 7:30 PM

The Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire has burned 118 acres and is at 10 percent containment. Thirteen structures are threatened, eight structures have been evacuated. The update that I am sharing from the NJ Forest Fire Service was posted at about 4:30 PM. My first post on this fire was earlier this morning.

Direct link to video from CBS 2 NY on YouTube

November 1st, 9 PM

The Craigmeur Lookout Fire has increased to 140 acres burned and remains at 10 percent containment. Thirteen structures remain threatened, eight are still evacuated. Structure protection is being provided by fire departments in Morris and Passaic Counties.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Halloween Wildfire, Cumberland County Nov 1st update

November 1, 11:50 AM

The Halloween fire has burned 110 acres and is at 20 percent containment. No structures are threatened and one road is closed.

November 1, 8:50 PM

The Halloween Fire has increased to 120 acres burned and is at 50 percent containment. Kudos to the NJFFS wildland firefighters for working this fire.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Red Flag Warning for Northern New Jersey

As the Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire is currently burning in northern New Jersey in Morris County, the NWS at Philadelphia/Mt. Holly has issued a Red Flag Warning for northern New Jersey for today, November 1st from noon to 7 PM. There was a Red Flag Warning in central and southern New Jersey last Saturday, October 26th.

2024 New Jersey Wildfire Season: Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire, Morris County (Initial Post)

November 1, 7:30 AM

This just in. Thanks to a friend who is New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) Wildland Firefighter who told me early this morning about the Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire, a multi-acre wildfire currently burning in Rockaway Township, New Jersey. This is the same township where the Microwave Wildfire burned several days ago. NJFFS crews and equipment are on site working this fire. New Jersey Advance Media just published an article reporting on the Craigmeur Lookout Fire, the Halloween Fire in Downe Twshp in Cumberland County and a third wildfire burning in Camden County that has forced the suspension of New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City line, go here to read this November 1st article by Jeff Goldman. In addition, News 12 New Jersey has a November 1st report (with video) on the Craigmeur Lookout Fire 

November 1, 11:50 AM

The Craigmeur Lookout Wildfire has burned 65 acres and is at 10 percent containment. Three structures are threatened, there are no evacuations in place, and no roads are closed. Two helicopters with 350 gallon buckets will be working the wildfire today.