UPDATED: Wildfires Spread Smoke Odors Across New Jersey

Police and fire officials say that the burning, smoky odor that many North Jersey residents smelled on Tuesday was due to multiple wildfires in the area.

Scores of North Jersey residents reported waking up to the odor on Tuesday morning, officials say. Affected towns reportedly include Livingston, Caldwell, Parsippany, Roseland, West Orange, Towaco and Fairfield. The smell has also been reported in parts of Somerset and Union counties including Watchung, North Plainfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood, as well as Basking Ridge and Bridgewater in Somerset County.

“We have gotten several reports of a burning odor around town,” the Livingston Police Department stated on Facebook around 9 a.m. “We are aware of it and have not located anything burning. It may be from another town and due to the weather is just traveling.”

Livingston area residents replied to the LPD’s Facebook post with confirmation of the smoky smell:

• “I smell it in Roseland. Dubravka... that makes sense because it smells like burning leaves.”
• “So odd, there is also a burning smell near my office in Parsippany.”
• “Odor is strong in West Orange, too.”

A short while after the Livingston police message, the Parsippany Police Department posted its own statement about the smell.

“We have received multiple phone calls from residents smelling the odor of burning wood throughout the township. We have had the police and two different fire districts check their areas and were unable to determine any source within the township. We believe the source is coming from two brush fires burning to our north, one at Wawayanda State Park (NJ) and one at Harriman State Park (NY). Due to the wind direction and the low cloud ceiling it is pushing the odor in our direction.”

Response to the Parsippany police post included:

• “The smell is throughout all of Northern NJ... Smell is strong in Towaco.”
• “The smell is strong in Fairfield too.”
• “The smell is coming into our 4th floor office building. Hope everyone is okay.”
• “It's very strong in Powder Mill too.”

West Essex Now reported around 9 a.m. that a large brush fire in West Milford was blowing toward the West Essex area.

“All towns are reporting the smell of smoke and haze in the air,” the report stated. “Fire departments are checking out all possible locations, but at this time there is nothing in West Essex causing smoke.”

More accounts of affected towns came with the report:

• “Really strong in Caldwell too. Thought it was a fireplace or something but seemed stronger.”
• “I can smell it from inside my office building in Parsippany.”

The Livingston Police Department issued an update around 10:30 a.m., identifying the burning smell as traveling odors from a fire "in the areas of West Milford and Mahwah," near the area of Wawayanda State Park.

Meanwhile, the Madison Police Department issued a statement at 10:56 a.m., alerting local residents that the odor of smoke they may have noticed was from a brush fire in Harriman State Park in Orange and Rockland counties in New York.

"There are two major wildfires burning in areas of Harriman State Park to our north," Madison police stated. "In total, they estimate around 750-800 acres of forest are involved. Winds from the north and northeast today will bring noticeable smoke into the northern New Jersey area throughout the day. While we are 99% certain this Harriman smoke will impact the area, please continue to report any visible signs of smoke or odors of smoke to your local authorities. You should not assume that the smoke is from New York State. It must still be investigated. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is actively monitoring these developments. "

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