National Night Out: New Jersey Forest Fire Service Helicopter Delta6

Direct link to August 5th video from MySussex on YouTube

I am aware of National Night Out the first Tuesday of August, as I see signage and social media posts about local events on that day. National Night Out recognizes the work that police and fire departments (including wildland fire agencies) do to keep us safe. In the video that I embedded, you will see NJ Forest Fire Service helicopter, Delta 6, which is stationed at Aeroflex-Andover Airport in Andover in Sussex County NJ during the wildfire season. Delta 6 provides valuable support to wildland firefighers in northern New Jersey during New Jersey's wildfire season.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Training New Wildland Firefighters

The Central Division of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) recently completed biannual training of new wildland firefighters. This training is recognized by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. This training includes training on the operations, trucks and equipment used by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. If you can not see the Facebook post from the NJFFS that I embedded below, please please go to their May8th Facebook post.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service New Type 6 Engine

The NJ Forest Fire Service has a new engine, a type 6 engine with a 1.5 ton 4x4 truck chassis with following features: spare tire cabinet. drip torch holder, 150' booster reel, 135 GPM @ 50 PSI pressure pump, chainsaw cabinet, 12,000 lb winch, custom 250 gallon water tank, custom undercarriage protection, mud terrain tires, emergency lighting package, and a 35 quart recessed cooler. If you are unable to view the NJFFS Facebook post that I embedded below, please go here to view the video.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service Deployment to Georgia

I was delighted to read an April 25th Facebook post from the New Jersey Fire Service  saying that they deployed nine wildland firefighters, three type 4 engines and a pick-up truck to Georgia a couple of days ago to help with their devastating spring wildfire season. I am very proud of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service for taking care of us during the spring wildfire season in New Jersey and the rest of the year.

Obtained on April 27 from https://www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService/posts/pfbid028gZz8a4pRnsiPwTKguEdpZu7qmYSmiE8T7Tidni5xAk4CFdN4kdFKJybtcU2Z1r9l

First New Fire Tower in New Jersey in 78 Years

Direct link to March 25th video from the NJ Forest Fire Service on YouTube

 

Direct link to March 25th video from PIX 11 News on YouTube

There s a new fire tower known as the Veterans Fire Tower  in Jackson New Jersey that was dedicated on March 25th. This fire tower replaces a decommissioned fire tower in Lakewood NJ. This is the first new fire tower in New Jersey in 78 years.  I do not go to the New Jersey shore as frequently as I used to but I am fairly certain that I had driven by the old Lakewood fire tower. I had heard that the Lakewood Fire Tower was being decommissioned and am glad to be able to report on the new Veterans Fire Tower. As a New Jersey resident who follows wildfire activity I know that important work that observers in fire towers to detect wildfires and then report them to the NJ Forest Fire Service who will then deploy wildland firefighters to work the wildfire. Many but not all of these wildfires can be contained while they are still small. To read more about the Veterans Fire Tower, the importance of fire towers and prescribed burning operations go to this March 25th press release from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection

About NJ Wildfire SMART

Direct link to March 2025 video from the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection 

I want to thank my friends from the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page for sharing this video on their webpage over the last few days. My friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page share wildfire videos every day as well as photos of wildfires in and around NJ. They are a good resources and I visit their website a few times a week.

I had seen NJ Wildfire SMART on the New Jersey Forest Fire Service website  where they have a page devoted to NJ Wildfire SMART. Briefly NJ Wildfire SMART stands for safety, mitigation, awareness, response, and training. If you go to this page you can learn more details about each. I liked the video that I shared above for providing a brief overview of NJ Wildfire SMART. As an aside, as some of you know, I love the NJ Pinelands and have driven on  some of the sand roads in the Pinelands including the Bass River State Forest mentioned in this video. I appreciate the efforts that goes into maintaining these roads and more importantly to efforts in the Pinelands to mitigate wildland fires.

NJ Forest Fire Service: Three Generations of NJ Wildland Firefighters

 I have a busy day and do want to get my Monday post in. Here is a heartwarming video that I learned about from my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page the other day. The video is from CBS Philadelphia (2023) showcasing three generations of NJ Wildland Firefighters

Direct link to June 2023 video from CBS Philadelphia on YouTube

NJ Forest Fire Service Aerial Operations

Direct link to April 2023 video from  Eyewitness News ABC7 NY on YouTube

I thank my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who shared this April 2023 video on their webpage this morning. In this short video you will learn about how the NJ Forest Fire Service use airtankers and helicopters with buckets to support the firefighters on the ground. This video was shot during the spring 2023 wildfire season when airtankers were specifically on contract in NJ to fly wildfires. During other times of the year there is an airtanker and helicopters with buckets that are available if they are called upon. And I believe that the same applies to helicopters with buckets

NJFFS Huey at July 16th Airshow in Atlantic City NJ

Direct link to July 16th video from Zinger Aviation Media on YouTube

I have been wanting to share a video with you of a Bell Huey helicopter used for aerial firefighting in support of the wildland firefighters on the ground. While this video does not show the bucket that the NJFFS Huey's carries you get to see the Huey up close and personal on the two passes it made at the July 16th airshow in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I believe that theThe New Jersey Forest Fire Service still has two of these helicopters which their website refers to as Bell 205 Hueys. To the best of my knowledge, the Bell 205 Huey is also known as the UH-1H Huey, see this website from Globalair for more information. In my wonderings around the internet on YouTube and Facebook, I have seen quite a few videos and photos of what appear to be Bell Hueys (exact model unknown) fighting wildfires, but without knowing for certain exact information I was reluctant to share. So, I am delighted to share this video of one of the NJFFS Bell Huey's which are used to fight many wildfires of various sizes in New Jersey.

My profound thanks go to my friends at the B10 New Jersey Wildfire Page for sharing this video on their website on July 17th. While I am at it, when you get a chance check out this website for their posting of videos relating to wildland firefighting as well as their photos of wildfires around New Jersey.

New Jersey Wildfire SMART

 

Direct link to video from NJ Spotlight News on YouTube

Some of you know that I did my best to post about the 2024 fall wildfire season in New Jersey, the worst wildfire season in about 100 years. On February 13th New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced an initiative called New Jersey Wildfire SMART aimed at various actions that can be taken to reduce the risks posed by wildfires. In a February 13th press release announcing the New Jersey Wildfire SMART initiative, they say in part:

“New Jersey experienced significant dryness this past fall, resulting in an extended wildfire season throughout the state in 2024 and providing a sobering reminder that we must be prepared for the spring wildfire season,” said Governor Murphy. “It is more important than ever that we share information and continue to work collaboratively to protect lives, properties, and communities.” 

 

“Preparedness is essential, especially as climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of wildfires in New Jersey,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “We need to be even more vigilant going into the spring wildfire season and follow the actions of NJ Wildfire SMART, which will help mitigate wildfire risk statewide.”

 

“The Forest Fire Service works year-round protecting New Jersey communities from the threat of wildfires,” said Greg McLaughlin, Administrator for Forests & Natural Lands. “In addition to protecting lives and property, the Forest Fire Service assists with natural disasters, maintains hundreds of miles of roads, works alongside multiple cooperators to develop and implement strategic plans that reduce the risk of future wildfires, and lends their talents to other states when wildfires strike.”



“Meeting with municipal partners ahead of New Jersey’s spring fire season is essential to strengthening communication, coordination and preparedness when addressing wildfire risk and responding to developing incidents,” said Bill Donnelly, Chief of the DEP Forest Fire Service. “We share the common goal of ensuring New Jersey’s communities and forest resources are protected from wildfires, and today’s roundtable allows us to proactively address any concerns.”

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has a new webpage devoted to New Jersey Wildfire SMART where they discuss safety, mitigation, awareness, and training along with NJFFS videos on prescribed fire, fire towers, and the use of Single Engine Airtankers to help the firefighters on the ground fight wildfires.

Fire Camp May 2024: NJ Forest Fire Service and North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange

I enjoyed this video from the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection - Forest Fire Service highlighting the May 2024 four day workshop in the Pinelands. I always learn a lot from videos like this one. I appreciate what the New Jersey Forest Fire Service does to keep us safe as well as their partnership in this and other Fire Camps.

NJ Forest Fire Service's Lakewood NJ Fire Tower Decommissioned

 

The NJ Forest Fire Service decommissioned the Lakewood Fire Tower in early July. The fire tower was built in 1944 on land that was leased by the State of New Jersey. The owner of the property that the Lakewood Fire Tower sits on is ending and they want the tower removed. For more information on the decommissioning of the Lakewood Fire Tower, the adjacent lands and plans to build a new fire tower in Jackson Township, see this July 11th article on New Jersey Advance Media.

Direct link to video from NJ.com (NJ Advance Media) on YouTube

Multi-Agency Rescue on Appalachian Trail in the Delaware Water Gap

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service like other State and National Fire Fighting Agencies may be involved in assisting other agencies in rescues on hiking trails and the like. Such an incident happened the night of June 25th near the Catfish Fire Tower on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in the Delaware Water Gap (see the map).

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service assisted in a medical rescue on the AT near the Catfish Fire Tower.

A Facebook Post from the Knowlton Twp. Fire and Rescue Company #1- Station 41 (embedded at the end of this post) there were two rescues on the evening of June 25th. The first was a sick hiker near the Catfish Fire Tower who was evacuated via a stokes stretcher.  The following agencies assisted in this rescue: Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Co No 1, St Lukes Emergency and Transport Services, Blairstown Hose Company, Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company, Blairstown Ambulance Corp, NJ Jersey Forest Fire Service,  National Park Service LEO Rangers, Warren County Search and Rescue, St Clairs Emergency Medical Services Paramedics.

While the rescue near Catfish Fire Tower was going on, there was a second incident, a fall from the Red Dot Trail on Mt. Tammany in the Worthington State Forest. Agencies involved in this rescue were: Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Co No 1, Portland Hook and Ladder, Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company,  Freden Volunteer Fire Department, Blairstown Hose Company, NJ Forest Fire Service, NJ Park Police, NJ State Police, National Park Service LEO Rangers, National Park Service High Angle Rescue Team, Warren County Search and Rescue, and Blairstown Ambulance Corps. The terrain on this trail required five rope systems in order to evacuate the injured party on a Stokes stretcher.

I have been on both of the trails mentioned here, but that was several years ago before I got arthritis in my knees. I would not hike on the Red Dot Trail again, it is rugged and some rock scrambling is required as I recall. I am not sure about the AT up to the Catfish Tower, a nice trail but I am not sure my knees could take it. I offer my thanks to all the agencies who were involved in both of the rescues last night. Kudos to all. 

Single Engine Airtankers Used by the NJ Forest Fire Service

When I was checking out the New Jersey Forest Fire Services Facebook account yesterday, I noted their April 29th post featuring a two minute video about the single engine air tankers (SEAT) that they have on contract during this spring's wildfire season. Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildfire Page, I know that there is an 800 gallon SEAT based in central New Jersey and a 600 gallon SEAT based in southern NJ. Thanks to this video I learned more about these SEATS and their pilots. I enjoyed this video and hearing from the two SEAT pilots and I hope that you enjoy it.

The video that I share below is posted by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the parent agency of the NJ Forest Fire Service

Direct link to video from the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection on YouTube

New Jersey Forest Fire Service: Fire Towers Observers Detect Wildfires

I have posted on other occasions about the network of 21 fire towers around the State that are staffed when conditions are ripe for wildfires. For a description of the each fire tower and to learn more about the importance of fire towers in detecting wildfires in NJ go to the Detection page on the NJ Forest Fire Service web page.

Obtained on April 11, 2024 from https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/fire/program/detection.html

As we in New Jersey are currently in the spring wildfire season these fire towers will be staffed as necessary. Speaking of the wildfire season in New Jersey, the NJ Forest Fire Service recently put out a nice press release urging all in New Jersey to be aware of the wildfire danger with steps that citizens should take and how they may access information about wildfire danger, as well as the role of prescribed burning, and the importance of the 21 fire towers. The press release speaks to the role of fire tower observers

'Fire observers are critical to the Forest Fire Service’s mission of early detection and rapid response to wildfires', said Bill Donnelly, State Forest Firewarden and Chief of the Forest Fire Service. 'New Jersey has some of the most volatile forest fuels in the country. Having eyes in the sky with the ability to dispatch resources at the first sign of smoke, as well as relaying to ground crews what the wind speed, wind direction and other weather conditions are doing, is immensely important.'

 The New Jersey Forest Fire Service made a Facebook on April 9th discussing the import role of fire towers in New Jersey to detect wildfires. A short video is included.

2023 New Jersey Wildfire Season: More Prescribed Burns

On November 13th, I shared photos from a prescribed burn that New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews conducted in Sussex County on November 11th, I continue writing about prescribed burns today. I do try to check out the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) on social media on most days because it is one of the ways that I can see what the NJFFS is doing or what is of interest to them at the moment. This week, I noticed two posts on consecutive days about prescribed burns that the NJFFS conducted on those days. Knowing that the NJFFS may conduct prescribed burns in the fall, I went to the NJFFS Prescribed Burns Information Page to find out exactly when the prescribed burn season is in New Jersey. I clicked on "planning" on that page and see that the prescribed burn season in New Jersey runs from October 1st to March 31st, in the following excerpt from this page you will learn a little about planning considerations:

Prescribed burning is a job requiring knowledge of forest fuels, fire behavior, suppression techniques, local weather conditions, and fires effects. Consequently, a written plan must be developed well in advance of the proposed burn to allow time for review and the preparation of all necessary permits. 

Planning considerations include a site map depicting the burn area, objectives and techniques; ranges of preferred weather conditions (wind, temperature, relative humidity); smoke management considerations (developed areas, highways); burning techniques, equipment and manpower needs, emergency suppression procedures, permit requirements and notification procedures. New Jersey's prescribed burning season is limited to the period between October 1 and March 31. 

I am very thankful that the NJFFS has a good prescribed burning program that helps to reduce fuels. I know that after planning and preparation for the burn that the crews work to do the burn safely and without impacting the public. I myself have seen road signs when I have been driving in or near an area with a prescribed burn letting drivers know of the prescribed burn. And their may be additional warnings so nearby residents know that a prescribed burn is happening.

 Thank-you New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

How New Jersey Forest Fire Service is Using Their $3M Budget Boost

 A couple of weeks ago, I made a post reporting about the $3 Million boost to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's (NJFFS) Budget, see my September 22nd post for more information. While I had an idea of how the NJFFS would use these funds, e.g some will be used to purchase new vehicles and to modernize their fleet. Thanks to an October 5th report by CBS Philadelphia who provided a behind the scenes glimpse into how the NJFFS is using these funds to assemble new fire fighting vehicles.

Direct link to video on YouTube from CBS Philadelphia

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.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service Gets $3 Million Budget Boost

Thanks to my friends from the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 who shared a video from CBS Philadelphia  on their webpage this morning, alerting me to the $3 million increase in the NJ Forest Fire Service budget. News 12 New Jersey has also covered this in a September 21st article.

Direct link to video from CBS Philadelphia on YouTube

In a press release dated September 21, 2023, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced that the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is getting an additional $3 million increase in their budget after the worst wildfire season in ten years. The press release states that

To date in 2023, the Forest Fire Service has responded to 1,034 wildfires which have burned  17,979 acres in New Jersey. Fourteen of these fires were considered to be major wildfires burning in excess of 100 acres, making 2023 the busiest fire season in more than a decade.

The NJDEP press release lists the 14 major wildfires in New Jersey to date (note I added the months to the Dragway and the Airpark Wildfires from my blog entries):

• March 7: Governors Branch Wildfire (418 acres), Little Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County
• April 11: Jimmy's Waterhole Wildfire (3,450 acres), Manchester Township and Lakehurst Borough, Ocean County
• April 12: Kanouse Wildfire (972 acres), West Milford Township, Passaic County
• April 14: Log Swamp Wildfire (1,607 acres), Little Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County
• April 18: River Road Wildfire (241 acres), Washington Township, Burlington County
•  May 13: Cannonball Wildfire (102 acres), Pompton Lakes Borough, Passaic County
•  May 29: Box Turtle Wildfire (158 acres), Monroe Township, Gloucester County
•  May 31: Allen Road Wildfire (5,474 acres), Bass River Township, Burlington County
•  June 2: Flatiron Wildfire (212 acres), Medford Township, Burlington County
•  June 9: City Line Wildfire (711 acres), Manchester Township, Ocean County, and Pemberton and Woodland Townships, Burlington County
•  June 9: Buzby Boggs Wildfire (703 acres), Evesham Township, Burlington County
•  June 19: Acorn Hill Wildfire (246 acres), Woodland Township, Burlington County
•  {Aug} 20: Dragway Wildfire (1,778 acres), Waterford Township, Camden County, and Shamong and Medford, Burlington County 
• {Sept} 2: Airpark Wildfire (810 acres), Lacey Township, Ocean County

Among other things this additional investment will help to purchase new vehicles and equipment, and to hire more firefighters and for additional contracted air support. 

2023 New Jersey Wildfire Season: No Threat by Tree Struck by Lightning

 Over the years that I have been writing this blog, I have learned of the possible dangers caused by a tree being struck my lightning. Sometimes a tree strike can lead to a small or large wildfire. There are also the times when the responders respond quickly to the tree strike and if the tree poses no danger will wait and monitor until such a time that the fire caused by the tree strike can be safely contained and put out. 

I also know that there are many small wildfires, some of which are too small to make it into any database. In New Jersey, I believe but am not certain that any fire that is under five acres does not make it into the NJ Forest Fire Service database. Whether or not one calls such small fire a brush fire or something else, I do not know. But the point is that such a very small "brush" fires do happen and are contained and put out before they grow into something larger. Such a "brush" fire happened on or about September 8th. A tree in Green Township in northern New Jersey was struck by lightning, because the Green Township Fire Department determined that the tree was not a threat to to homes, roads, and  power lines they let the tree burn until the tree top fell to the ground. At this time, New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews had been alerted and were ready to put out the fire as soon as the tree top fell to the ground, water was supplied by GreenTownship.