Reflections on 2024 NJ Fall Wildfire Season

As I write this, it is four days past the rain event in New Jersey and environs that resulted in the New Jersey Forest Fire Service lowering the fire danger and lifting restrictions. However, I am going to remain alert and be aware that as it has been dry of late, that the fire danger may tick up again. 

🔥 Fire Restrictions Lifted Statewide

Following substantial rainfall overnight, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has lifted fire restrictions statewide.

Statewide Fire Danger:
🔗 View current New Jersey fire danger levels: https://t.co/wHxWuLVR6m pic.twitter.com/BT5wvV0Nsa

— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) November 21, 2024

In reporting on the major wildfires in New Jersey during this fall wildfire season, be assured that I am aware of the hundreds of smaller wildfires that I do not know about. Between the major wildfires that I wrote about and these smaller wildfires in New Jersey, I know that the crews of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service worked hard. Kudos to all the crews of the NJFFS and structure firefighters for your hard work in keeping us safe. At the suggestion of a couple of friends of mine, I have a post summarizing the 2024 New Jersey fall wildfire season, I will edit and revise as appropriate and there is a link to that post on the upper right side of the main page on the "web version" of my blog.

In doing my best to report on what I knew about this unprecedented fall wildfire season in New Jersey and environs, I admit that I did not give equal time to wildfires in adjoining and near by states. I did live in Manhattan over 45 years ago, and while I was not aware of brush fires in New York City at that time, I am aware of the large number of brush fires in New York City this fall. In the time that I have been writing this blog I don't recall seeing such a large number of brush fires in New York City. I applaud the NYC firefighters for working and containing these fires and as far as I know no houses were impacted by these brush fires. I am also aware of the wildfires that  broke out in New England, Long Island New York, and Pennsylvania. I know that there are States that I am not listing here.

I was touched by the severity of this fall wildfire season in New Jersey and elsewhere in the northeastern United States in ways that are hard to explain in words. Trust me on this. 

As regular readers know, during the recent weeks of this fall wildfire season in New Jersey, I was sometimes posting two or three times a day. While under normal circumstances I won't be posting with that frequency, I will do my best to stay aware of major wildfires burning in New Jersey and adjoining regions and will increase my posting as appropriate. 

A Shout Out to firefighters working fires in frigid temperatures

New Jersey and other areas in the eastern United States has seen some frigid temperatures over the last few days. This morning I found myself thinking about the firefighters, structure and wildland along with other first responders who are out doing their jobs to keep us safe. I am not sure if it is too frigid for brush fires here in New Jersey, especially with snow on the ground that might well hinder a brush fire from starting. But I do know that houses and businesses can catch fire in any weather and when the temperatures are below freezing, these conditions have to be challenging for the firefighters as well as there equipment. I am here this morning to give a shout out to all firefighters and other first responders who have been working in frigid temperatures the last few days. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for all you do, your efforts on our behalf are noticed. 

The video that I am embedding below is from WGN News out of Chicago Illinois reporting on a couple of fires on or about January 14, 2024. You will see them fighting fires in single digit temperatures with below zero wind chills. Note the ice on the burning houses.

Direct link to video from WGN News on YouTube