Trenton, New Jersey – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Forest Fire Service has awarded $90,000 in grants to 22 communities across the state to bolster wildfire risk-reduction efforts ahead of the spring wildfire season. This initiative aligns with the Sherrill Administration’s commitment to safeguarding communities from intensifying wildfires amid climate change impacts in the wildland-urban interface regions where forests meet developed areas.
Communities receiving these funds all possess approved Firewise Action Plans under the Forest Fire Service’s Firewise Communities program. “The Firewise Communities Program supports concrete actions to help save lives and raise awareness for both vigilance and action to reduce wildfire risk,” stated Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “The partnerships supported by this initiative are vital for ensuring the protection of lives and property in New Jersey’s most wildfire-prone areas.”
John Cecil, DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites, emphasized the timing: “As New Jersey approaches spring wildfire season, preparation is critical, and community level action to reduce wildfire risk through implementation of the Firewise Communities program is an important step to take.” He added that these grants enable communities to implement meaningful measures in their local areas.
The grants stem from the USDA Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program, channeled through the Middle Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact involving Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. This national effort, tied to the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise USA, promotes planning, education, and assistance to mitigate risks.
Funded projects focus on practical conservation measures such as maintaining firebreaks free of vegetation and conducting strategic forest thinning to eliminate ladder fuels—low and midstory trees and shrubs that enable fires to climb into canopies, complicating suppression. Additional activities encompass community education, outreach, and home-hardening techniques. Home hardening modifies structures, materials, and landscaping to resist ignition, primarily from embers and wind-blown debris rather than direct flames.
Key strategies include clearing dead vegetation to create defensible space, using fire-resistant plants, keeping gutters free of debris, and installing ember-resistant features like vent screens. Bill Donnelly, Chief of the Forest Fire Service, highlighted the program’s success: “New Jersey has one of the most successful Firewise Community programs in the country, which not only helps keep residents safe in the event of a wildfire, but gives our firefighters a deeper knowledge of the issues in the communities they protect.” Collaboration between residents and firefighters enhances planning, prevention, and response.
Recipients must match grants with cash or volunteer hours. Awards went to associations in multiple counties: In Atlantic County, Victoria Crossing Community Association in Egg Harbor received $4,200. Burlington County grantees included Leisuretown Association, Inc. in Southampton and Tranquility Ridge Homeowners Association in Vincentown, each at $4,200. Camden County’s Waterford Township secured $4,200, while Monmouth County’s Horizons at Woods Landing Homeowners Association in Hamilton got the same amount.
Ocean County saw the most recipients, including several in Barnegat—Brighton at Barnegat Firewise Association ($3,500), and five others at $4,200 each, plus Pinewood Estates Firewise at $2,000. Other Ocean areas like Little Egg Harbor, Manchester (Crestwood Village Five and Six at $4,300 each), Manahawkin, Toms River, Tuckerton, and Waretown also benefited. Warren County’s Hardwick Township received $4,300.
New Jersey joined Firewise in 2004, with Hardwick Township as the pioneer. The program educates on risks, reduces fuels, and plans for threats. Peak wildfire season spans mid-March to mid-May, when low humidity, winds, and drying vegetation—especially in the Pinelands’ sandy soils—heighten dangers.
Resources include the New Jersey Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (NJWRAP) for data and mitigation tools. In 2025, the Forest Fire Service introduced NJ Wildfire SMART (Safety, Mitigation, Awareness, Response, Training) to guide risk reduction. More details are available at wildfire.nj.gov, along with social media updates from the Forest Fire Service.
These grants exemplify proactive conservation in protecting natural resources and public safety amid evolving environmental challenges. For instance, one statistical highlight is the distribution of funds, with most communities receiving around $4,200, enabling targeted projects like fuel reduction in high-risk zones. A concrete example is Hardwick Township’s long-standing participation since 2004, demonstrating sustained community commitment to habitat protection and fire prevention.
For more information, visit New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.