Blaze Scorches Wooded Area in Lawrence Twp. [Video]

Like their counterparts in other towns across New Jersey, firefighters in Lawrence Township spent part of Tuesday (April 10) fighting a wildfire that was made particularly dangerous by the recent lack of rain and the day’s gusting wind and low relative humidity.

The blaze, which was reported at 12:45 p.m., burned an area of grass and brush estimated to be about 75-feet by 200-feet in size in the woods located between Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor railroad tracks and the apartment buildings on Joyner Court in the Lawrence Square Village complex off Quakerbridge Road.

Lawrence Township fire officials described the blaze as “suspicious in nature” and said the investigation into its cause is being conducted by the township fire marshal’s office and township police.

According to the National Weather Service, sustained winds of 21 mph and gusts up to 31 mph were recorded in the Trenton area on Tuesday, while the area’s relative humidity level dropped to as low as 23 percent.

Those gusting winds were driving the flames toward the apartments on Joyner Court when the first firefighters arrived on the scene, fire officials said.

Lawrence Township’s daytime duty crew of career firefighters and volunteers from the Lawrenceville and Lawrence Road fire companies contained the blaze to the woods, with the assistance of the Princeton Junction Fire Co. of West Windsor and Mercerville Fire Co. of Hamilton Township.

The blaze was brought under control in less than a half-hour, but firefighters remained on the scene for several hours dousing smoldering embers in the woods.

Tuesday’s fire came as the central part of the state remained under a Red Flag Warning issued by the weather service.

A Red Flag Warning is issued when “critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or will shortly” and the combination of strong winds and low relative humidity creates “explosive fire growth potential,” according to the weather service.

Tuesday was the fifth day in a row that Central New Jersey has been under a Red Flag Warning.

Because of the ongoing dry conditions and strong winds, numerous wildfires have broken out across New Jersey and other parts of the East Coast in the last few days.

On Monday, a crew from Lawrenceville Fire Co. responded into West Windsor Township to help fight a wildfire that burned an area about 100-feet by 300-feet in size off Meadow Road.

That blaze, the cause of which has not yet been determined, was also fought by crews from Princeton Junction, West Windsor, Plainsboro, and Princeton fire companies, with support from Twin W First Aid Squad and Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad.

Other notable wildfires in New Jersey since Friday, April 6, include:

• On Tuesday, about 20 acres of forest burned in Barnegat Township, while other smaller fires charred wooded areas in Jackson Township, Sayreville and behind the Woodland Elementary School in Monroe Township.
• On Monday, in Burlington County, while another blaze scorched over 300 acres on Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst land in Ocean County.
• On Saturday and Sunday, , Hunterdon and Sussex counties and elsewhere.
• On Friday, two separate fires near the Atlantic City Expressway burned a total of about 400 acres of forest in Winslow Township, Camden County.

According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, , usually carelessness, negligence or arson.

In addition to Tuesday’s fire in Lawrence Township being of questionable origin, authorities have also labeled many of the other recent fires as suspicious, including Tuesday’s fire behind Woodland School in Monroe and Monday’s 1,000-acre inferno in the Pinelands of Burlington County.

“Any person who deliberately or maliciously sets a forest fire in New Jersey will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Michael Drake, the state’s acting forest fire warden.

While forecasts are calling for humidity levels to increase somewhat and wind gusts to decrease today (Wednesday, April 11), the state’s forests will still remain vulnerable to fire.

“It is critical that the public exercise extreme caution when near wooded areas,” Drake said. “Report any suspicious activity to your local police or to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.”

According to the weather service, Red Flag Warnings are again possible for the area on Thursday afternoon and Saturday afternoon.

The following news release was issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection about 4 p.m. Tuesday:

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service today continues to respond to scattered wildfires as fire conditions across the state remain extremely high because of persistent dry and windy conditions.

The Forest Fire Service is currently responding to a 20-acre wildfire in the area of Barnegat Boulevard and Bay Avenue in Barnegat Township, Ocean County. This fire was reported to be 75 percent contained as of 2 p.m. Local fire departments are providing protection to structures in the area.

The wildfire that burned approximately 1,000 acres in Tabernacle and Woodland Township in the heart of the Pinelands on Monday is now 75 percent contained. Full containment is expected later today.

The State Forest Fire Service is continuing to gather evidence into the cause of the fire, reported at 12:07 a.m. Monday, and considers its origin suspicious.

Acting Chief Michael Drake also said the Forest Fire Service will work with local authorities as the investigation continues. Drake asked that anyone with information contact Division B of the State Forest Fire Service at (609) 726-9010.

“Any person who deliberately or maliciously sets a forest fire in New Jersey will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Drake said.

Two larger wildfires in Winslow Township that the Forest Fire Service responded to on Friday are now fully under control. 

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County reports that the 300-acre fire reported at the base Monday is now 80 percent contained. Full containment is expected tonight. 

The Forest Fire Service has been responding to numerous smaller fires across the state, most of which have been in the range of several acres or less.

While there are forecasts of slight rain in some parts of New Jersey today and tomorrow, Drake said the continued dry and windy weather is still making forested areas vulnerable to fire.

“It is critical that the public exercise extreme caution when near wooded areas,” Drake said. “Report any suspicious activity to your local police or to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.”

The fire danger level continues to be listed as extreme in Burlington, Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Monmouth and Ocean counties, as well as Middlesex County south of the Raritan River. In the rest of the state, the fire danger level is high.

In Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean counties, and Middlesex County south of the Raritan River, Stage Three campfire restrictions remain – meaning all fires in wooded areas are prohibited unless contained in an elevated stove using only propane, gas or electricity.

Wildfires can spread quickly in New Jersey, threatening homes, property, natural resources and human lives, yet most are preventable.

Follow these guidelines to reduce the risk of fires:

• Use ashtrays in vehicles. Discarding cigarettes, matches and smoking materials is a violation of New Jersey law.
• Obtain necessary permits for campfires. Don't leave fires unattended. Douse them completely.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children. Teach them the dangers of fire.
• People living in the forest should maintain a defensible buffer by clearing vegetation within 30 feet of any structures. Also, make sure fire trucks can pass down your driveway.
• Report suspicious vehicles and individuals. Arson is a major cause of forest fires in New Jersey.

For more information on wildfires, fire safety and Forest Fire Service contact numbers, visit www.njwildfire.org.