Forecasters issued warnings on Friday, noting that low humidity combined with gusty winds have heightened the potential for wildfires in parts of New Jersey, Philadelphia, its surrounding areas, and Delaware. This comes as firefighters continue to grapple with a large wildfire in the Pine Barrens.
The National Weather Service has strongly advised against any outdoor burning due to conditions characterized by aridity, temperatures near 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), and southern winds capable of gusting up to 20 mph (32 kph) across the Mid-Atlantic region. There is an expectation of some rainfall over the weekend in the area, where additional fires persist unchecked in Pennsylvania.
According to the latest update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, about 60% of the fire, which has spread across nearly 24 square miles (62 square kilometers) in the southern part of the state, has been contained. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries or fatalities, but buildings and vehicles have sustained damage.
A 19-year-old local resident, Joseph Kling, has been arrested in connection with starting the fire. Prosecutors announced on Thursday that Kling, from Waretown, New Jersey, faces charges of arson and aggravated arson. Authorities allege he ignited wooden pallets and left the scene without ensuring the fire was extinguished. A public defender, speaking on his behalf during a court hearing, declined to provide further comments.
Cristina LiBassi, a spokesperson for New Jersey’s Public Defender’s Office, emphasized that Kling is presumed innocent until his case is resolved in court.
The blaze was initially detected on Tuesday morning by fire tower authorities who saw a smoke column rising among the pines. Law enforcement used GPS to trace the blaze’s origin to a yet-to-be-extinguished bonfire.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer expressed confidence that the fire was deliberately set but refrained from sharing further details about the ongoing investigation.
The Pine Barrens, spanning over one million acres (405,000 hectares), is experiencing its vulnerable forest fire season. Firefighters face challenges with the low humidity and the aftermath of a prolonged drought in the region.
New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the U.S., has cautioned that the fire could potentially threaten nearby developments despite parts of the Pine Barrens being uninhabited. As of Thursday, the fire has grown to more than 23.8 square miles (around 62 square kilometers).
This incident marks the second-largest fire in recent memory for New Jersey, surpassed only by a 2007 blaze that covered 26 square miles (67 square kilometers). Residents and business owners, like Jim and Lenore Thoms, praised the heroic efforts of firefighters, crediting them with saving an industrial park near the fire.
The fire’s location is approximately 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of New York City and about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Philadelphia. Meanwhile, firefighters in south-central Pennsylvania are combating fires around Michaux State Forest, collectively covering 2.1 square miles (5.4 square kilometers).
Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported that the dry, warm conditions, coupled with gusts, have complicated containment efforts; however, no structures have been lost yet.
New York officials have also issued warnings of potential elevated pollution levels in areas including New York City, Rockland and Westchester counties, and Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties. This heightened the urgency to restrain the massive wildfire in New Jersey, now regarded as its second most catastrophic wildfire in recent years.
Visuals from the state’s fire service department show billowing smoke clouds, intense flames engulfing pine trees, and firefighters combating the conflagration.
The Pine Barrens, located between Philadelphia to the west and the Atlantic coast on the east, is characterized by fast-draining sandy soil and trees with immature leaves. Coupled with consistently low humidity and sporadic gusts of wind, these conditions dry out the forest floors, posing significant wildfire risks.