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NJ DEP outlines spring wildfire‑season outlook, grants and new fire tower
Summary
Department of Environmental Protection officials said the state is preparing for an active spring wildfire season, announcing $90,000 in grants to 22 high‑risk communities, targets for prescribed burns, recent acres treated and the opening of a new 133‑foot Veterans Fire Tower in Jackson to improve early detection and response.
Officials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Forest Fire Service laid out preparations for the spring wildfire season during a virtual media briefing, calling for vigilance as conditions shift quickly.
Greg McLaughlin, administrator of Forest and Natural Lands at the DEP, said the spring briefing is meant to strengthen communication with media and the public ahead of incidents. "During a wildfire, things are happening very quickly; minutes and seconds matter," he said.
Why it matters: The DEP said preparations this winter and spring are intended to reduce confusion during incidents, speed resource coordination and keep fires small through improved detection, pre‑suppression work and community risk‑reduction projects.
What the DEP is funding and doing: McLaughlin said the department awarded $90,000 in grants to 22…
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