Wildfire information from New Jersey Forest Service and Ready.gov

Be Wildfire Ready -(https://www.ready.gov/wildfires)

Wildfires can ruin homes and cause injuries or death to people and animals. A wildfire is an unplanned fire that burns in a natural area such as a forest, grassland or prairies.

If you live in an area adjacent to wooded areas, the threat of wildfire is a concern. Fast moving wildfires can destroy a home in a short period of time.

Before A Wildfire:

Prepare Now

  • Sign up for your community’s emergency warning system.
  • Gather emergency supplies, including a N95 respirator mask that filters out particles in the air.
  • If you have a pre-existing respiratory ailment, consult your physician
  • Keep important documents in a fireproof safe place.
  • Know your community’s evacuation plan

Protect your home and business:

  • Defend your space.
    • Use fire resistant roofing or siding materials
    • Enclose spaces under porches and decks
    • Replace mulch with decorative stone
    • Use non-resinous or less flammable plants
    • Prune trees and shrubs to remove dead or dying plant life
    • Reduce the density and change the arrangement of landscaping
    • https://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/fire/docs/100ft.pdf

Survive During a Wildfire

  • Evacuate immediately if told to do so.
  • If trapped, call 911 and give your location, but be aware that emergency response could be delayed or impossible. Turn on lights to help rescuers find you.
  • Listen to, or watch local media or news outlets
  • Use an N95 mask to help keep harmful products out of the air you breathe

After a Wildfire

  • Listen to authorities and do not return until told to do so. The area may be unsafe.
  • Avoid hot ash, burned trees, shrubs or other smoldering debris. Be cautious of the ground in burned areas. The ground may contain heat pockets that can burn you or re-ignite or cause another fire.
  • Avoid breathing ash from the fire.
  • Document property damage with photographs. Inventory your belongings and contact your insurance company for assistance.

Wildland Fire Assessment System 

WFAS, the Wildland Fire Assessment System, is an internet-based information system. The current implementation provides a national view of weather and fire potential, including national fire danger and weather maps and satellite-derived “Greenness” maps.

NJFFS B10 Website

How to protect your home from Wildfires

NOAA Fire Weather Site

The NOAA Fire Weather Information Center is a roundup of various NOAA Web sites and information on the latest weather forecasts, including satellite images and graphics. Some external links are included for your convenience.