As New Jersey enters peak wildfire season, state and local officials are warning that conditions are already in place for fires to spread quickly — even after recent rain and a snowy winter.
New Jersey’s wildfire season typically runs from mid-March through mid-May, when dry vegetation, low humidity, and gusty winds can combine to create fast-moving fires.
“We are just actually getting right into it,” New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly said during a recent statewide briefing. “It doesn’t take long for a fire this time of year to get up and start running.”
So far this year, the state has responded to more than 200 wildfires, though officials say activity remains below recent years. Still, with dry conditions expected to continue, they anticipate a busy season ahead.
Why spring is the highest risk
While many people associate wildfires with summer heat, spring presents a different kind of danger.
Leaf cover has not fully returned, allowing sunlight to dry out leaves and debris on the forest floor. Even after rainfall, those fuels can dry within hours.
“Fires can ignite just hours after rainfall,” Donnelly said.
State officials also noted that despite winter precipitation, underlying ground conditions remain dry, limiting how much moisture actually reaches vegetation.
At the same time, longer days and increasing winds can quickly accelerate fire spread — turning small incidents into larger events.
A local risk in Hopewell Valley
That statewide warning has direct implications for Hopewell Township and surrounding communities.
“Hopewell Township’s mix of forests, open space, and residential neighborhoods puts our community squarely in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI),” said Hopewell Fire Marshal Andrew Fosina Jr.
“Small fires can spread quickly — but residents can dramatically reduce risk with a few consistent prevention practices,” Fosina said. “Most wildfires in New Jersey are human-caused, which means they’re also preventable.”
A recent reminder close to home
The risks are not theoretical.
Just one year ago, Hopewell Township experienced the largest wildfire ever recorded in Mercer County, when nearly 300 acres burned between Woosamonsa Road and Poor Farm Road.
Fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, the fire spread rapidly over the course of a weekend, at one point threatening more than 30 structures and drawing a response from approximately 250 firefighters across the region.
Despite the scale of the fire, no homes were lost — a result officials credited to rapid coordination between local departments and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Preparedness and response
Local fire officials say preparation is critical, particularly in areas like Hopewell Valley where hydrants are limited and water must often be transported to fire scenes.
“The addition of a new tanker here in Hopewell Valley assists us in providing more water, more quickly, to all types of fires,” said Fire Chief Jonathan D. Moore of Hopewell Township Fire District No. 1. “Our fire department members are very well trained in tanker shuttle operations due to the lack of fire hydrants.”
Over the next couple of weeks fire departments from across the region will be participating in water carrying drills and practice in Hopewell Twp. to help keep firefighters prepared on how to battle fires where there are no hydrants.
At the state level, the Forest Fire Service continues to focus on early detection and rapid response. Officials rely on a network of fire towers, field crews, and mapping tools to locate and contain fires as quickly as possible.
Their goal, officials said, is simple: keep fires small.
Managing risk before fires start
Controlled or “prescribed” burns have already been taking place across Mercer County early this spring as part of broader wildfire prevention efforts.
In Hopewell Township, planned burns at several preserves, including sites managed by Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, and Mercer County, are used to reduce invasive vegetation and promote native plant growth.
Prescribed burns are carefully conducted under specific weather conditions and with advance notice, often resulting in temporary park closures while crews work.
The goal is to reduce the buildup of dry vegetation that can fuel larger, more dangerous wildfires later in the season — essentially lowering the intensity and spread of future fires.
What residents can do
Officials emphasized that most wildfires in New Jersey are preventable and often start from everyday activities.
Residents are urged to:
- Use caution with outdoor burning and fire pits
- Properly dispose of fireplace ashes
- Keep gutters clear of dry leaves
- Maintain defensible space around homes by clearing brush and debris
- Ensure driveways remain accessible for emergency vehicles
Even routine actions can have consequences in dry conditions.
“You might come out in the morning and dump ashes in your backyard (from the fireplace,)” Donnelly said. “Next thing you know, we’ve got a situation on our hands.”
Staying informed
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service provides updates on major wildfires through social media, as well as email and text alerts available at wildfire.nj.gov.
Officials say most fires remain small, but when conditions shift — especially during windy days — the risk can increase rapidly.
“Conditions can change quickly,” Donnelly said. “The potential is certainly there.”
