Fires Fueled By Dry Conditions, Near-Record Temps Across NJ

NEW JERSEY — Fire danger remains "very high" across New Jersey as dry, summer-like conditions continue, and both local firefighters and state forest fire crews have been busy putting out flames in various communities.

Several wildfires and brush fires broke out over the weekend, including in Rockaway Township, where New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews have been battling a 77-acre fire since Saturday.

While 30 structures near the blaze were initially considered at risk, that number has since decreased to 3, and no evacuation orders had been issued as of Tuesday morning.

Over the weekend, two brush fires were reported in Bridgewater — one which stemmed from a pickup truck catching fire, and another which spread to a nearby shed and ended up damaging several other structures, as well as machines and propane tanks in the fire area.

Crews also contained a woodland wildfire in Gloucester County in Sunday in the White Oaks Wildlife Management Area, sending smoke to nearby residential areas.

Another wildfire started at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Monday, sending smoke into both Burlington and Ocean counties. As of the last update, firefighters at the base were burning fuel ahead of the main fire line, to try and control the spread.

Authorities also said a Newark house fire claimed the lives of two girls, aged 6 and 8 early Sunday morning. Witnesses told detectives there was a birthday party for one of the girls on the second floor of the residence, and the girls were playing with fire near a couch in the hallway. Detectives concluded that the fire originated on the second floor and spread to the third floor, authorities said.

And, the Hudson County Arson Task Force is investigating an apartment fire that took a man's life in Jersey City last Wednesday.

Drought Watch Continues Across The State

The U.S Drought Monitor shows that several New Jersey counties are experiencing severe drought conditions, including portions of Burlington, Camden, Ocean and Atlantic counties.

Much of North Jersey is considered "abnormally dry," while other communities in Central Jersey, South Jersey, and the Shore region are seeing moderate drought.

On Monday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service implemented Stage 3 fire restrictions as the state deals with historically dry conditions.

Under the restrictions, charcoal fires are prohibited. All fires in wooded ares must be contained in an elevated stove, using only propane, natural gas, gas or electricity.

Gov. Phil Murphy's administration issued a statewide drought watch last Thursday, asking residents and business to reduce their water use. Low rainfall and warmer-than-average temperatures over the past few months have stressed the state's water supplies, officials said.

New Jersey has a three-stage advisory system for managing droughts:

1. Drought watch: The state focuses on public awareness and urges people to conserve water.
2. Drought warning: The state environmental commissioner urges the public to use water sparingly and can impose restrictions on water suppliers in the most-affected regions.
3. Drought emergency: The governor orders restrictions on water use, which mandates typically phased in as conditions deteriorate.

Local governments and water utilities can impose additional restrictions, even before a drought emergency, which was last declared statewide in 2002.

Last month was New Jersey's third-driest September since records commenced in 1895. There was virtually no rainfall in the first half of October, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Climate change has significantly impacted the state's water supplies, the NJDEP said. Recent years have shown a trend of increasingly intense rainfall events, followed by periods of little to no rain, according to environmental officials.

Patch's Josh Bakan contributed to this report.