It does not take much to spark a flame. That simple formula, combined with freakish weather conditions and a historic drought experienced here this fall, can turn a tiny flicker into a widespread inferno.
Authorities are still investigating what started the out-of-control fire that continues to scorch 2,283 acres of woods in West Milford, near the New York border, but according to the state Department of Environmental Protection, almost all wildfires are caused by arson or by human carelessness.
People, more often than not, start wildfires.
In June, for example, an unattended campfire was suspected of igniting a blaze of 450 acres near a lake resort in central Colorado. Less than a month later, an even larger expanse of a state forest was incinerated after a fireworks mishap in Burlington County.
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Discarded cigarette butts, sparks flying off of chainsaw blades and piles of burning yard waste are other common culprits.
The fireworks accident that caused the so-called Tea Time Hill Wildfire to burn thousands of acres in Wharton State Forest on the Fourth of July, and the ongoing conflagration in upper Passaic County, could also be emblematic of a climate trend.
Wildfire seasons are lengthening, the DEP says, and the frequency of large fires is increasing.
In September 2023, the DEP announced an extra $3 million to be budgeted for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service following the busiest wildfire season in more than a decade. There were 1,193 fires in the state last year.
Yes. They can occur without human activity, and they often do -- especially in the West, where dry thunderstorms are regular occurrences.
Lightning strikes produced by those storms, in which rain evaporates before touching the ground, are a natural cause of such wildfires, including one that killed 19 firefighters in central Arizona in June 2013.
The Yarnell Hill Fire is among the deadliest firefighter disasters in American history.
In terms of the total number of fatalities, there is no comparison.
The deadliest wildfire to ever happen in the U.S. took place on the same day -- Oct. 8, 1871 -- as the more infamous Great Chicago Fire, making it largely ignored by researchers. But it actually killed four times as many people.
The Peshtigo Fire, as it is known, claimed at least 1,200 lives in northeast Wisconsin. Its cause is believed to be embers that flew up into the air as railroad workers cleared the land to lay down new tracks. However, some have speculated that because the massive fires in the Midwest happened simultaneously, they were caused by a meteoric impact.
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The American Red Cross cautions campers not to abandon bonfires and to make sure that flames are doused with water, or smothered with dirt, before leaving campsites.
Smokers should dispose of burnt matches and cigarette butts in closed containers or in cups of water.
Lawn debris, leaf litter and plant trimmings should be burned in 50-gallon drums, and fires should be avoided on windy days.
Before setting off fireworks, have buckets of water, fire extinguishers or garden hoses ready to put out flames.
Never park hot cars on dry grass, and do not let gasoline or motor oil spill on it either. All-terrain vehicles, lawnmowers and tractors should have spark arresters.
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: devencentis@northjersey.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ wildfires: What is causing forest blazes in North Jersey?