Thursday, May 31, 2012
The number of wildfires in New Jersey in 2012 has already exceeded all of last year’s total, and despite recent rainfall, precipitation levels so far this year remain below those of 2011, state officials said.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued Wednesday (May 30) by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Although the dry conditions that led to wildfires that burned more than 1,000 acres in New Jersey last month have lessened, wildfires remain a pervasive threat to residents living in rural and heavily wooded areas. The number of wildfires so far in 2012 has already exceeded all of last year’s total, and despite recent rainfall, precipitation levels so far this year remain below those of 2011. The Departments of Banking and Insurance, Community Affairs and Environmental Protection today reminded New Jersey homeowners who reside in or near forests to carefully maintain and review their insurance coverage, to …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Due to the increased risk of wildfires, a Fire Weather Watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday for all of New Jersey by the National Weather Service.
Due to the increased risk of wildfires, a Fire Weather Watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning for Mercer and Middlesex counties and the rest of New Jersey by the National Weather Service. The Red Flag Warning is in effect until 8 p.m. today (April 17). “Fine fuels remain dry and it appears very likely that relative humidity values will fall into the 20s from late this morning into the early evening hours. A sustained wind from the northwest at 10 to 15 mph is expected. Gusts to 20 mph should be common,” according to the weather service. “A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected due to the combination of gusty winds, low relative humidity values and dry fine fuels.” Due to the ongoing lack of rain …
Monday, April 16, 2012
Fire crews from Lawrence Township teamed up with firefighters from nearly a dozen other municipalities to battle a forest fire in West Windsor Township, not far from the Lawrence Township border.
Crews from Lawrence Township’s Slackwood and Lawrenceville volunteer fire companies were among the more than 75 firefighters and support personnel from nearly a dozen municipalities who responded to a large fire in the woods behind the Windsor Ponds housing development in West Windsor Township on Sunday afternoon (April 15). New Jersey Forest Fire Service officials estimated that the blaze – reported shortly before 3 p.m. – charred about four acres of leaves, brush and tree stumps between Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor railroad tracks and Windsor Ponds Road in the development off Village Road West, not far from the Lawrence Township border. Train traffic along the railroad tracks was slowed while firefighters from at least 16 different …
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The blaze on Tuesday burned a 75-by-200 foot area of grass and brush in the woods between Amtrak's Northeast Corridor railroad tracks and Lawrence Square Village. No rain, low relative humidity and strong winds have increased concerns about wildfires.
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 …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Fire danger is currently rated as high throughout most of the state, meaning wildfires, once started, can spread rapidly, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Thursday, March 29, 2012
Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued on Wednesday, March 28, by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin urged the public to exercise caution as wildfire dangers increase due to dry and windy conditions. Fire danger is currently rated as high throughout most of the state, meaning wildfires, once started, can spread rapidly. "Conditions have been dry coming out of the winter and into early spring," Commissioner Martin said. "A carelessly tossed match or cigarette, an improperly tended campfire, even a poorly maintained chimney can spark disaster." The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to 315 wildfires that have burned 254 acres so far …
