Jackson fire contained, so why is there thick smoke in the air still?

Jackson fire contained, so why is there thick smoke in the air still?

by
June 7, 2023

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina today confirmed the forest fire in Jackson Township has been contained, but residents are still asking why the smell of smoke is so strong in the community.

Reina said the answer is two-fold. First, a contained fire doesn’t mean it has been fully extinguished. It means firefighters have cut off the fire’s path to expand by creating back burning that clears underbrush, leaves and fuel, preventing the fire from spreading.

Reina said there has been confusion in the term ‘contained’ and while firefighters continue to let the fire burn out and battle it where they can, the chances of the fire growing a low.

“Thankfully, the wind conditions were in our favor here, and the work of these brave firefighters to contain the fire has stopped it from becoming much worse,” Reina said today. “They were out there in the woods all night fighting this thing and kept it from spreading, they should be commended for their efforts.”

The mayor said the strong smoke condition is a combination of the fire in Jackson, being compounded by a massive fire in Canada that is sending smoke from multiple fires in Quebec and Nova Scotia south as far as South Jersey.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service made substantial progress overnight in containing a wildland-urban interface wildfire burning in the area of East Commodore Boulevard and Cedar Swamp Road in Jackson Twp., Ocean County.

The wildfire has grown to 70 acres in size and is now 70% contained.

Forest Fire Service crews utilized a backfiring operation overnight to protect surrounding homes and burn fuel ahead of the main body of fire.

Phil Stilton
Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

  1. New Jersey Town Where ICE Agent Was Run Down Passes Resolution Urging Repeal of Sanctuary State Policies
  2. New Jersey Dem Lawmakers Move to Expand Assault Rifle Ban As Court Rules Existing Law Unconstitutional
  3. FIFA Is Now Selling World Cup Grass Paid for by New Jersey Taxpayers
  4. Flood Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Risk, and Possible EF2 Tornado Threat Across New Jersey Today