Wildfires are catching wind in NJ causing smoke and endangering buildings and many people in close proximity, along with causing mass destruction. There have been at least 6 separate wildfires that have popped up in 5 different counties over the past couple weeks. Fires in Ocean, Burlington, Gloucester, Bergen and Passaic counties are just a few of the 537 that have burned in NJ since October 1, 2024. With those 537 fires the NJ Forest Fire Service has recorded over 4,500 acres of forest burned. For the past couple months NJ has received little to no rainfall. As of October 10th – 11th the state of NJ has received anywhere from 0.13 – 0.5 inches of rain. This is the most rainfall for the past 6 weeks.
Jennings Creek: New York State and NJ are both being affected by the Jennings Creek fire. The fire started somewhere in the ranges between West Milford, NJ and Warwick NY burning in more than 3,000 acres. This fire has affected an estimated 3,317 people directly and an estimated 974 housing units. Although the fire has a main water source around it, firefighters locally and state funded still struggle to contain the fire due to the massive drought that the states are going through. At this point it is unknown how much emergency services have contained the fire and how much it will continue to cost the state to help contain. Although many towns nearby are continuing to give support with local fire departments, it is not enough. On a very sad note 18 year old Dariel Vasquez was killed in the act of duty. Vazquez was a NY state parks aid and a senior at East Ramapo High School. He was struck by a tree on November 9, 2024. Dariel is remembered by many and will not be forgotten for his service that he gave.
Cannonball 3: Cannonball 3 is a much smaller fire located in Pompton Lakes NJ, but it is affecting many more people due to the area it is in. The fire was discovered November 8, 2024 affecting an estimated 23,475 people and 9,448 housing units. As of sometime in the early morning of November 12, 2024 the fire is 100% contained, but only after eating away at 181 acres of land and costing the state an estimated $45,000.
Craigmeur Lookout: Located roughly 10 miles west of Butler is the Craigmeur Lookout fire located in Morris County, NJ. The fire was discovered on October 31, 2024 and as of the night of November 11, it is roughly 85% contained. Spanning over 170 acres it has put an estimated 3,817 people in danger and an estimated 1,379 housing units in the path of destruction. This is just one of the many fires causing the state an estimated $75,000.
Shotgun: Located in Ocean county the Shotgun wildfire was discovered on November 6, 2024. About 10 miles west of Brick Township the shotgun wildfire is burning slowly and not as big of a problem as other fires stated above. This fire is roughly 90% contained as of late on November 11, 2024. It has burned 350 acres of shore area and is costing the state roughly $33,000. It has put 1,024 people in danger and an estimated 396 housing units.
Bethany Run: Roughly 16.8 miles east of Philadelphia, PA is the Bethany Run wildfire. Discovered on November 7, 2024 at 9:03a.m by the NJ Forest Fire Service. Affecting the second most people in one area in NJ it is affecting 14,545 estimated people and roughly 5,267 housing units. Costing the state an estimated $45,000 it is one of the more expensive fires currently burning in NJ.
The totals: Between just 4 of the 5 fires the state of NJ is paying over $198,000 just to fight wildfires and while this seems little compared to the amount the state government has, it continues to keep growing if it does not rain heavily and NJ continues in a drought. NJ is not the only state being swarmed with drought and wildfire. States apart from New England, especially Massachusetts, are being swarmed; currently they have 3 or more wildfires. Wildfires are also swarming in the North West. Overall in the United States there has been a lack of rain causing wildfires to swarm and pop up all over the country which is causing problems for many states, destroying homes and ruining lives.