Residents Near Huber Woods Attend Forest Fire Info. Session

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — On March 6, the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners hosted a free meeting for residents about how they can prevent forest fires, and what the county and local fire departments will do if a fire starts in any of the woods in and around Middletown.

This comes as firefighters are currently battling a 150-acre wildfire in Gloucester County in South Jersey. The fire broke out Wednesday night and is currently 80 percent contained as of Thursday morning, according to this latest Patch report.

The meeting was held at Huber Woods Park in Middletown, and Approximately 25 residents from the neighborhoods surrounding Huber Woods and Hartshorne Woods attended.

Presentations were given from the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Monmouth County Park System, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and the Middletown Fire Department.

"Fire officials described the firefighting resources that would be deployed in the event of a forest fire in the area,” said Commissioner Dominick “Nick” DiRocco. “Our County Fire Marshal, Fred Migliaccio, explained the various firefighting task forces, comprised of Monmouth County municipal fire departments, that would be deployed in the event of a fire in the area. He also explained the various measures homeowners can take to reduce the risk of fires spreading to their properties.”

“During the session, Assistant County Park Superintendent Rick Royle explained that park rangers regularly maintain trails and tend to fallen trees,” said Commissioner Ross Licitra, liaison to the Monmouth County Park System. “A Park System ecologist detailed measures that have been taken by the County to improve the health of the woodlands to encourage the growth of native plants and trees, reduce natural debris that fuels fires and improve access for firefighting equipment.”

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