State Has Begun Controlled Burning In The Pinelands To Prep for Wildfire Season

The New Jersey State Forest Fire Service has already begun its annual controlled burning program to reduce wildfire fuels on forest floors, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

So if you see a plume of smoke in the distance, don't automatically assume it's a forest fire.

The prescribed burning program eliminates the buildup of undergrowth fallen trees and branches, leaves, pine needles and other flammable debris.

"Residents are advised that they may see large plumes of smoke in areas where these controlled burns are being conducted," the release states.

The burns will take place through the end of March. The burns are usually conducted in the late winter months, to minimize the amount of smoke and when weather conditions are safer.

“Prescribed burning is an important tool in keeping our forests and other wildlands safe and healthy,” said Bill Edwards, Chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. “These burns are conducted only under exacting conditions by highly trained personnel. By burning them away now, we can reduce the risk of these materials serving as tinder for wildfires later in the year. This practice also improves the overall ecological health of our forests and grasslands.”

The New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry will provide as much notice as possible of prescribed burns through its Facebook page at:www.facebook.com/newjerseyforests. The public may also contact the State Forest Fire Service at (609) 292-2977 about the prescribed burning program and where burns are expected to be conducted. When in doubt about the source of smoke or fire, call 9-1-1 or 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337).

Forest Fire Service personnel use hand-held torches to set smaller fires to burn debris on the ground.

The peak wildfire season in New Jersey typically begins in middle to late March and runs through late spring, when the weather tends to be dry, windy and warmer.

Most of the prescribed burns will be done in the southern region of the New Jersey Pinelands, which are particularly vulnerable to wildfires.

The Forest Fire Service expects to burn between 10,000 and 20,000 acres of forests and grasslands this season, depending on weather conditions. Most burns take place on state-owned property, such as state forests, parks and wildlife management areas.

“Prescribed burning has been a successful fire mitigation tool used by the Forest Fire Service since the 1920s, protecting property, lives and infrastructure by creating defensible space around developed areas and strategic fire breaks that help the Forest Fire Service quickly contain wildfires,” said Richard Boornazian, DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources.

In 2016, the Forest Fire Service responded to 1,065 wildfires, 75 percent of which were a quarter-acre or smaller. The largest was a 464-acre fire in Bass River State Forest in Burlington County.

Roads in areas where burns are being conducted will be clearly marked. Motorists should observe posted reduced speed limit. Nearby residents and forest visitors can expect temporary smoke, the release states.

For more information on wildfires in New Jersey, steps you can take to protect your property and other resources, visit:www.njwildfire.org. For more information on New Jersey’s Statewide Forest Resource Assessment and Strategies, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/forest/docs/NJFSassessment.pdf.

Image: Patch file photo