Major wildfires burn throughout New Jersey as dry conditions continue

Firefighters are battling a massive increase in wildfires across New Jersey, with fires even spreading underground in some cases.

Transcript

00:00New Jersey has already seen 238 wildfires since October 23rd.

00:05Far above the 28 fires reported in the same time frame last year.

00:10In the past week, major fires ignited in Essex, Cumberland and Morris counties,

00:16threatening homes and forcing evacuations.

00:18We had eight homes evacuated, but a total of 16 homes that potentially were threatened

00:24by the wildfire had we not gotten ahead of it and been able to basically control the area

00:29where the fire was heading.

00:30And not only is it dry on top of the ground, but it's also dry underground.

00:35Conditions are so severe that flames are spreading through underground root systems,

00:40flaring up well outside established containment lines.

00:43It looks like the flames are gone and they are for the most part,

00:46but the heat that remains in the ground that has the ability to

00:49follow the root systems and pop somewhere else, that's one of our concerns that are,

00:54you know, that's not going to be resolved until we get some good precipitation.

00:58Crews have been working 24-7, not only battling these wildfires,

01:02but monitoring them overnight while coming up with crucial plans.

01:06Days are getting shorter, we're getting some good recovery from RH,

01:09we're getting a cooler night and stuff like that.

01:12So that gives us the upper hand.

01:14It's just having our folks in place there when

01:16we need to make the initial attack on these fires when they're reported.

01:19Statewide fire restrictions remain in place,

01:22as one small spark could be all it takes to start the next wildfire.

01:27And without significant rainfall, restrictions will stay.

01:30Soon enough, hopefully things will change, but just be extra careful.

01:35As long as we get a little bit of cooperation from Mother Nature,

01:38we seem to typically end up getting the upper hand just in time.