What’s the deal with the recent string of forest fires?
The New Jersey and Long Island Pine Barrens are among the most flammable forests in the country and are often the site of the largest fires in our area.
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Spring is fire season. Dry air, dead leaves from previous years and warm days make fires easy to start and, unfortunately, easy to spread.
The New Jersey and Long Island Pine Barrens are among the most flammable forests in the country and are often the site of the largest fires in our area.
What are the Pine Barrens?
The Pine Barrens in New Jersey and on Long Island both have sandy soil and are unique among other forests in the Northeast.
They’re a haven for rare and protected species, like the Hyla andersonii tree frog, which is abundant in the New Jersey Pine Barrens - and the Swamp Pink Plant (Diererina coccinea), which is a beautiful flowering pond plant that is threatened by extinction.
Over 70% of the known sites for this species exist in New Jersey, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
How do fires help these pines?
Natural fires are actually a part of the life cycle of these forests. Forest managers prescribed burns to mimic natural fire cycles, keeping the ecosystem healthy and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. The ground has a lot of “fuel,” which is fallen leaves from previous years, and the leaf litter dries out quickly. Fire helps these forests because it:
Clears Competition: Fire reduces underbrush, which would otherwise overshadow and outcompete the pines for light and nutrients.
Releases Seeds: In pitch pines, fires can trigger seed release onto nutrient-rich and newly exposed soil.
Maintains Habitat: Fire helps preserve the open landscape necessary for the Pine Barrens ecosystem and the rare plants and animals.
Promotes New Growth: Fire encourages regrowth from roots and trunks, particularly in pitch pines, which is an unusual advantage this species has.
How bad is the 2025 Ocean County fire in New Jersey?
This fire, known as the Jones Road Fire by officials, has burned at least 13,250 acres and is 50% contained. The fire is located 3.7 miles west of Ocean Acres in Ocean County, New Jersey. An area of about 20 square miles has burned, which is roughly 15 times the size of Central Park in Manhattan.
