Fire Preparedness Briefing Needed In NJ, Amato Says

TRENTON, NJ — As wildfires continue to rip through California, 9th District State Senator Carmen Amato wants to make sure that New Jersey is prepared for the worst locally.

Amato, whose district is comprised of a significant portion of the Pine Barrens, recently wrote to Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette calling for "an immediate public briefing for local and state officials on state forest fire preparedness."

See Patch's coverage of the California wildfires here.

"Like many of my constituents, I am deeply concerned about the wildfires raging in California, especially with respect to the loss of life, destruction of property, and the safety of first responders," Amato said. "I also remain greatly concerned that in relatively recent years, New Jersey lost record acreage due to forest fires."

Thousands of acres were burned in New Jersey this past fall, worsened by the fact that conditions were the driest they'd been in nearly 120 years, according to officials.

"In view of this ongoing national tragedy and our relatively recent record acreage losses, I strongly believe that elected officials have an obligation to assure New Jersey residents that the state is prepared to fight a major wildfire event," Amato said.

Amato added that LaTourette had said that additional resources were secured for state forest firefighting at a budget hearing last spring.

"It would be helpful to know if, and how, those additional resources have been put to use, as well as what needs may remain," Amato said.

His words were echoed by 1st District State Sen. Michael Testa, who similarly wrote to LaTourette.

"I am requesting a formal update, in writing or via a public briefing, that our state’s forestry

management and fire-fighting services have the resources they advise are necessary to prevent
and fight forest fires," Testa wrote in his letter.