New Jersey authorities are warning residents of the potential risks and preparation steps as the state enters peak wildfire season this month.
Last year was the most active fire year in more than a decade for the Garden State, with nearly 1,200 wildfires burning over 18,000 acres statewide, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
Fourteen of the fires were considered major, with the most damaging one spanning over 3,400 acres in Ocean County — forcing 170 evacuations.
The NJDEP held a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss updates on the 2024 wildfire season, as the forest fire service teams provided the latest statistics and new tracking tools.
"New Jersey has some of the most volatile wildland fuels in the country," said William Donnelly, New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief, who continued to note the fires by the numbers.