A History of
Wildfires
in New Jersey
Wildfires
A History of
Back
A few of many*
2023-24
1963
1838
1755
2025
1930
1906
1700
1906
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) was established under the NJDEP in 1906. In 1899, Gifford Pinchot brought attention to the need for more fire control for New Jersey's fires. Theophilus Prince would be appointed the first State Forest Firewarden.
nj.gov
1930
The 1930 wildfire in May destroyed the town of Forked River and most notably affected Ocean County. Coverage of the fire was extensively seen in the New Jersey Courier, especially in places like Tuckerton. Acreage estimates range from 60,000 to 200,000.
Library Company of Philadelphia
1963
Known by its ominous name, Black Saturday, the 37 wildfires in April of 1963 caused around 190,000 acres in damage. The fire particularly affected areas like Burlington and Ocean Counties. Egg Harbor Township lost approximately 85% of its wooded area. The hundreds of destroyed buildings amounted to a cost of $8.5 million. The fire would kill 7 people.
Press file photo
2024
2023
The NJFFS responded to 1,000+ reported wildfires in 2023. 2 major wildfires included the Allen Road wildfire in Bass River, Burlington County, which burned over 5,400 acres; and the Jimmy's Waterhole wildfire in Manchester, Ocean County, which burned upwards of 4,000 acres.
The NJFFS responded to 1,400+ reported wildfires in 2024. The biggest of these wildfires was the Jennings Creek wildfire in Passaic County and Orange County, New York, which destroyed over 5,000 acres. The Shotgun Wildfire in Jackson Township was notably caused by arson and burned over 300 acres.
All photos are from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
One of the earliest records of wildfires in the Pine Barrens was a 30-mile-long wildfire in 1755 spanning from Barnegat to Little Egg Harbor.
As reported in New York Herald, the 1838 wildfire on September 7 consumed a large portion of the woods in Monmouth and Burlington Counties
NJ Wildfire Timeline
Dino Russo
Created on January 15, 2025
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Transcript
A History of
Wildfires
in New Jersey
Wildfires
A History of
Back
A few of many*
2023-24
1963
1838
1755
2025
1930
1906
1700
1906
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) was established under the NJDEP in 1906. In 1899, Gifford Pinchot brought attention to the need for more fire control for New Jersey's fires. Theophilus Prince would be appointed the first State Forest Firewarden.
nj.gov
1930
The 1930 wildfire in May destroyed the town of Forked River and most notably affected Ocean County. Coverage of the fire was extensively seen in the New Jersey Courier, especially in places like Tuckerton. Acreage estimates range from 60,000 to 200,000.
Library Company of Philadelphia
1963
Known by its ominous name, Black Saturday, the 37 wildfires in April of 1963 caused around 190,000 acres in damage. The fire particularly affected areas like Burlington and Ocean Counties. Egg Harbor Township lost approximately 85% of its wooded area. The hundreds of destroyed buildings amounted to a cost of $8.5 million. The fire would kill 7 people.
Press file photo
2024
2023
The NJFFS responded to 1,000+ reported wildfires in 2023. 2 major wildfires included the Allen Road wildfire in Bass River, Burlington County, which burned over 5,400 acres; and the Jimmy's Waterhole wildfire in Manchester, Ocean County, which burned upwards of 4,000 acres.
The NJFFS responded to 1,400+ reported wildfires in 2024. The biggest of these wildfires was the Jennings Creek wildfire in Passaic County and Orange County, New York, which destroyed over 5,000 acres. The Shotgun Wildfire in Jackson Township was notably caused by arson and burned over 300 acres.
All photos are from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
One of the earliest records of wildfires in the Pine Barrens was a 30-mile-long wildfire in 1755 spanning from Barnegat to Little Egg Harbor.
As reported in New York Herald, the 1838 wildfire on September 7 consumed a large portion of the woods in Monmouth and Burlington Counties