Campfire Restrictions Announced In NJ Due To Wildfire Risk

MANCHESTER, NJ — As firefighters continue to battle a nearly 4,000-acre fire in the Pine Barrens, state officials announced statewide restrictions on campfires and agricultural burning because of the fire danger in New Jersey.

Gregory McLaughlin, chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said dry conditions and the expected continued warm, dry weather have elevated the fire risk throughout New Jersey.

There were at least 15 fires on Tuesday throughout the state, including the fire in Manchester that was still burning Wednesday afternoon.

"Ninety-nine percent of wildfires are human-caused, whether it's accidental or intentional," McLaughlin said.

The campfire restrictions and a ban on agricultural burning took effect at 11 a.m. Wednesday. They include the following:

• No ground wood fires will be permitted.
• Elevated prepared fireplaces, elevated charcoal grills or stoves using electricity, or a liquid or gas fuel are acceptable.
• An elevated prepared fireplace must be constructed of steel, stone, brick, or concrete with its fire box elevated at least one foot above the ground surface and surrounded by at least a ten feet radius clearance to mineral soil.
• An elevated charcoal grill may be stationary or portable and surrounded by at least a ten feet radius clearance to mineral soil. Camp stoves are also acceptable.

April is the peak wildfire season in New Jersey, McLaughlin noted, though the 2023 season started earlier with fires that included one in Warren Grove in March that burned 125 acres. Read more: 125 Acre Wildfire Burns In Little Egg Harbor

"We aren't out of the woods yet," he said, because of the stretch of dry weather in the coming days and lots of dead, standing trees.

The same sunny, warm dry days putting a spring in people's steps also increase the fire risk, and there is no rain in the forecast until Saturday, when there is a 40 percent chance of showers in the area. The state updates fire risk throughout New Jersey on its website.

Trevor Raynor, assistant district firewarden for the forest fire service, said the service has increased its staffing to keep watch for fires, to be able to respond to them quickly and put them out before they spread.

McLaughlin said the service has firefighters on trucks monitoring areas on the ground and extra staff in fire towers watching the wooded areas.

They also are monitoring potential fire zones from the air, with aircraft they have under contract to go along with pilots on the forest fire service staff.

"We are taking more steps to prevent that next (wildfire)," Raynor said.