Wildfires have consequences, New Jerseyans are taking action

A map of the Jones Road Wildfire containment area in New Jersey on April 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM. Photo Credit: New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Newark, NJ - In recent years, wildfires have become one of the biggest threats to public safety in New Jersey. Since 2019, an average of 1,500 wildfires have scorched 7,000 acres of forests in the Garden State each year, endangering citizens and their homes, forcing several evacuations, and polluting the air, making it an even greater health hazard.

As of March 13, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to 381 wildfires throughout the state since the beginning of the year. These fires burned 1,242 acres of New Jersey green space.

More recently, a massive wildfire broke out on April 22 in Barnegat Township, Ocean County. The “Jones Road Wildfire” quickly spread to Lacey and Ocean Townships, burning over 15,000 acres, threatening eight structures, destroying one commercial building and several abandoned vehicles, shutting down miles of the Garden State Parkway, and forcing 5,000 residents to evacuate by April 24, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Unfortunately, residents like Waretown’s Debbie Schaffer were caught off guard by the Jones Road Wildfire, saying that she was unprepared for such a crisis.

"It's a little scary…like I didn't have an emergency bag packed, so I was kind of walking in circles knowing I had to get out of there, but trying to think, 'What do I need?'" said Schaffer.
Though some New Jerseyans aren't located in the areas burned by these wildfires, the effects can be far-reaching. This was the case with the Jones Road Wildfire, which polluted the skies all the way in Newark, bringing theAir Quality Index up to 107, making it “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” This forced the City of Newark to issue a health advisory warning, and encouraged sensitive residents, including children, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung disease to reduce activities or time spent outdoors.

Cause And Effect

The Jones Road Wildfire was reportedly caused by arsonist Joseph Kling, a 19-year-old from Ocean Township, after he set wooden pallets ablaze and left without ensuring they were all completely extinguished. While the fire is said to have been manmade, the climate surrounding it turned what was originally a small blaze into an inferno the size of Newark.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, climate change has created the warm, dry conditions that often spark wildfires. A 2021 study funded by the NOAA found that the western United States experienced increased vapor pressure deficits due to rising temperatures between 1984 and 2018, resulting in drier plant matter and larger-than-average burned areas during the warm season.

Such conditions made New Jersey a hotbed for wildfires. In October 2024, when Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statewide Drought Watch, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service had reported battling 537 wildfires. The statewide Drought Watch quickly escalated into a Drought Warning in November 2024. At that point, nearly 1,300 wildfires had occurred since January 2024, burning over 11,000 acres.

Graphic credit: The U.S. Drought Monitor’s map of New Jersey on December 31, 2024 (left) and April 8, 2025 (right). Taken from: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NJ

The crisis has not slowed down in 2025. The U.S. Drought Monitor found that the southernmost part of New Jersey had the most intense (or "extreme") drought conditions from January to April 2025. This region includes Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem Counties. In many of these counties, residents saw wildfires raging in their backyards.

As seen during the 2023 Canadian wildfires, these blazes have been shown to have severe health effects on New Jersey residents. Scientists at Rutgers University found large amounts of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at the height of the wildfires on June 7. These compounds can cause cancer, lead to the development of asthma, and trigger asthma attacks.

The 2023 Canadian wildfires were responsible for a reported 17% spike in emergency department visits for asthma in the U.S. The New Jersey Department of Health found an average of 199 daily ED visits amongst state residents with asthma as a primary diagnosis during the fires. This was a 112% increase from the daily average in the week just prior to the outbreak.

Dr. Gnana Sunderam, MD, a New Jersey pulmonologist affiliated with Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark’s Central Ward, says he personally treated “quite a few” patients with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), who came into the emergency room during the Canadian wildfires seeking help for worsening coughs, shortness of breath, wheezing, and increased mucus production. 

Low-income patients with limited access to air conditioners, air purifiers, or M95 masks were especially affected, according to Dr. Sunderam. Hard-pressed New Jerseyans who can't afford masks or other protections, especially those experiencing homelessness, are at even greater risk as hazardous wildfires move a lot closer to home.

“If you have chronic lung disease you might want to minimize exposure to the outdoors," Dr. Sunderam advises. "And if you have to go out, you want to wear a mask, preferably M95 masks or 1895 masks. If those are not available or if those are expensive, perhaps even surgical masks. If you are indoors, prepare a clean room for an emergency, seal the windows and indoors. Make it as airtight as possible, and if you can afford a high-power filter, use them and stay indoors as much as possible and have an emergency preparedness plan for evacuation, if needed."

The poor air quality created by wildfires has also had a negative impact on the public's mental health. During the 2023 Canadian wildfires, the NJDOH found a 19% increase in the daily ED visits among New Jersey residents with anxiety, stress-related, or somatoform disorders during the wildfires. Dr. Sunderam also treated patients during these wildfires who experienced significant anxiety. He reports encountering patients with difficulties coping with depression and post-traumatic stress as well.

And though the New Jersey drought has lessened, as of April 8, 2025, the northernmost and southernmost regions of New Jersey remain under "severe" drought conditions, resulting in poor air and water quality along with brittle trees, keeping them at risk of more wildfires.

Rutgers scientists also found that wildfire smoke can worsen global warming. Particulate matter from these fires increases light absorption and scattering in the atmosphere, which can cause greater temperature variation. According to researchers, these wildfires will even pave the way for bigger, more frequent wildfires by raising temperatures that will cause more evaporation and scorched vegetation.

A burned forest on the side of the Garden State Parkway following the Jones Road Wildfire on April 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Mandy Coriston for Public Square Amplified

New Jerseyans Are Taking Action

As the New Jersey Drought Warning has continued into spring and wildfires have surged, the Murphy Administration has proposed that an additional $1 million be put into the state's reported $8 million budget for wildfire preparedness and suppression in the 2026 Fiscal Year, which starts on July 1, 2025. This would add another million dollars to Gov. Murphy's proposed $58.05 billion statewide budget for the next fiscal year.

The Murphy Administration has also started urging the public to exercise wildfire awareness to prevent more blazes as they conserve water. It launched NJ Wildfire SMART in February 2025 to emphasize specific ways to help reduce the risk and spread of further wildfires. 

And they're not alone. As state agencies try to educate the public about wildfire containment, grassroots organizations like Newark’s South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA) are doing the same Kim Gaddy, SWEA’s Founder and Executive Director, discussed the ways that the Alliance is working to “engage, empower, and inform” South Ward residents in wildfire safety. These include engaging South Ward residents in hyper-local air monitoring, using PurpleAir monitors to watch out for pollution. 

SWEA also sends out alerts to members and South Ward residents of nearby wildfires, advising when to stay inside or wear a mask. The Alliance has even taught South Ward residents how to completely put out fires and cigarettes and how to evacuate areas affected by wildfires. Additionally, SWEA has taught South Ward residents to be mindful of environments outside their community, encouraging them to visit state forests to understand the importance of wildfire safety and prepare themselves with masks and asthma inhalers. 

“I think what we have to do is understand that this is our reality and that we have to empower our residents now to prioritize fires and disasters that can happen, even in an urban community,” said Gaddy. “And so, by sharing the resources and the information that we all have, we can protect the lives of our residents.”

SWEA has taught wildfire safety to youth groups at Weequahic High School, Avon Avenue School, Belmont Runyan School, and George Washington Carver School. SWEA has also worked with New Jersey Organizing Project, a statewide organization based in Manahawkin, and more local organizations like Clinton Hill Community Action, East Ward’s Ironbound Community Corporation, and Keep America Beautiful - Newark, during their efforts to promote wildfire safety.

All in all, the Jones Road Wildfire is one of many massive and destructive infernos in New Jersey that have shown residents how easily such fires can occur. However, the recent string of blazes that have ravaged New Jersey has made residents more aware of the causes and dangers of wildfires, showing that they can be prevented. 

“Stay alert, understand that these fires cause chronic health issues,” said Gaddy. “These fires can take a person’s life. These fires take your breath away, and they should be asking for air quality monitoring within their communities, and seeking the support of the state and their local government to make sure that they can monitor the air quality so that when they see spikes in the air quality, they can then take action, because it’s all about empowering those residents with the knowledge and information so they can take the best actions to protect their families.”