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