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NORTH JERSEY, NJ — As drought conditions persisted in New Jersey and wildfires crept closer to homes near the New Jersey/New York border this week, the National Weather Service issued a special statement early Sunday morning.
The statement said:
“There is an elevated risk of fire spread today with northwest winds 5 to 15 mph and minimum relative humidity values of 20 to 30 percent.
“Burning is strongly discouraged. Use extra caution if handling any potential ignition sources, such as machinery or matches, and ensure to properly extinguish or dispose cigarette butts.”
The statement pertained to Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Passaic, and Union counties.
One New Jersey realtor showed fires closing in on homes in Greenwood Lake in Orange County on Saturday. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the Passaic County/Orange County fires were 90 percent contained.
A fire on Seymour Avenue in Newark just before midnight Friday injured four firefighters and destroyed homes, and brush fires were seen elsewhere in North Jersey.
Rain To Come
Forecasters say rain will fall throughout the day Thursday, starting at 1 a.m. But conditions will remain dry until then.
Both North and South Jersey have been plagued by wildfires during dry conditions over the past few weeks, as well as building fires, including one that routed 23 people in Jersey City a week ago.
An 18-year-old firefighter from Rockland County, N.Y. died fighting the wildfires last Sunday.
State Forest Fire crews have responded to several other major wildfires as drought conditions worsen across the state. Gusty winds and low humidity mean that any outdoor fires can spread quickly and become difficult to control, the National Weather Service has said.
Mandatory statewide Stage 3 fire restrictions remain in effect. All fires are banned unless they are contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas or electricity. No wood or charcoal fires are allowed, and the use of kerosene or gas torches of any kind is prohibited, officials said. The fire ban is in place on all public lands and private properties in all municipalities throughout the state.
Both Trenton International Airport and Atlantic City International Airport have gone without measurable rainfall for more than a month. On Thursday, both broke records for consecutive days without measurable rainfall.
The 34-day record in Atlantic City was set in 1995, and Trenton’s record of 38 days without measurable rainfall had been set all the way back in 1865.
Michele Rotuno-Johnson contributed to this report.