The Major NJ Wildfire Shows Unexpected Urban Areas Are at Risk
Scientific American3 days
NJ Wildfire Burns 13,250 Acres
Above: New Jersey Forest Fire Service crews battle the Jones Road Fire near Lacey Township, Ocean County, on April 23, 2025. Image copyright: Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Rapid response and strategic firefighting efforts have successfully prevented what could have been a major disaster, with no residential homes lost despite the fire's massive scale and intensity. The coordinated emergency response, including timely evacuations and power shutoffs, demonstrated the effectiveness of New Jersey's emergency management systems in protecting lives and property.
Climate-concerned narrative
The fire risk in New Jersey is only going to get worse. According to Climate Central, climate change is making wildfire seasons longer, with the annual number of fire weather days rising by 10 in northern New Jersey and by four in southern New Jersey in the last 50 years. If the authorities do not get to grips with the roots of this crisis, rather than just addressing the symptoms, disasters like what is unfolding in New Jersey now will only become more frequent and intense.