Waking up to the smell of smoke or hearing a distant siren in the Garden State immediately makes you hit Google to ask: is there a fire in NJ right now? Honestly, it's a fair question. New Jersey has a weird relationship with fire. We aren't California, but between the dense Pine Barrens and our tightly packed 19th-century boroughs, things can go south fast.
Right now, as of Sunday, January 18, 2026, there isn't a massive, state-wide wildfire emergency. But that doesn't mean it's quiet. If you're smelling smoke in North Jersey or seeing helicopters near the shore, there are a few specific incidents you should probably know about.
The Big Ones: Roselle Park and Ringwood
The most significant activity over the last 48 hours has been in Union and Passaic counties. If you’re in Roselle Park, you probably saw the chaos on the 500 block of Willow Avenue. A 2nd Alarm structure fire broke out Friday afternoon. It was a mess.
Firefighters from Kenilworth, Linden, and Cranford had to jump in because the heat was intense and the wind was cutting right through them. It was brutally cold out there—temps were hovering in the low 20s. When it's that cold, fire hydrants freeze and the water turns the street into a skating rink. Luckily, crews managed to keep it from jumping to the neighbors' houses.
✨ Don't miss: Why Every Tornado Warning MN Now Live Alert Demands Your Immediate Attention
Up in Ringwood, things were much worse. A home on Peters Mine Road was basically leveled by a fire that started early Friday morning. It was a "fully engulfed" situation by the time the first engines arrived. Sadly, three people were hospitalized, and as of the latest reports, one person is still unaccounted for. This wasn't a forest fire, but it’s the kind of local tragedy that sends smoke drifting through the valley, making everyone in the area wonder if the woods are on fire.
What’s Happening in Atlantic City?
If you're down south or near the casinos, you might still be seeing the aftermath of the Brighton Towers blaze. This happened on the 2800 block of Atlantic Avenue. It was a 4-alarm fire in a high-rise.
Imagine 400 people trying to evacuate a 13-story building at 5:00 AM. It was "organized chaos," according to the deputy chief. The scary part? That building didn't have a full sprinkler system. It started on the 8th floor and gutted about a dozen units. If you’re seeing activity near the Tropicana, it’s likely just the ongoing cleanup and restoration crews at Brighton Towers.
🔗 Read more: Brian Walshe Trial Date: What Really Happened with the Verdict
Wildfire Risk: Is the Pine Barrens Burning?
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is currently on high alert, but for a different reason. We're in the middle of Prescribed Burn season.
Basically, the state sets "good fires" to prevent "bad fires." Between now and March, you’ll often see plumes of smoke rising from Wharton State Forest or near Toms River. These are controlled. They clear out the "fuel"—the dry needles and dead leaves that turn the Pine Barrens into a tinderbox come April.
Current conditions:
💡 You might also like: How Old is CHRR? What People Get Wrong About the Ohio State Research Giant
- Fire Danger Level: Low to Moderate (thanks to the recent damp cold).
- Active Wildfires: None over 10 acres reported this morning.
- Air Quality: Mostly good, though "No Burn" days have been frequent lately due to poor air mixing (meaning smoke stays low to the ground).
The Mullica Hill Tragedy
Just yesterday evening, Saturday, a horrific accident in Harrison Township (Mullica Hill) caused a house fire. A black SUV slammed into a home on Banff Drive around 6:30 PM. The crash sparked an immediate fire that trapped the people inside the vehicle. Two people lost their lives. If you saw smoke in Gloucester County last night, that was the source.
How to Track Fires in Real-Time
If you’re still worried and want to check your specific zip code, don't just rely on social media—rumors fly way too fast.
- NJ Forest Fire Service Dashboard: This is the gold standard for wildfire tracking. They map every "smoke" call in the state.
- PulsePoint: If your local department uses it, you can see structure fires in real-time.
- National Fire Strategy Reports: NJ is currently at Preparedness Level 1, which is the lowest possible level. This means we have plenty of resources and no "uncontained large incidents."
Actionable Steps for NJ Residents
If you’re smelling smoke right now and it’s not coming from your own chimney:
- Check the Wind: Smoke from a controlled burn in the Pine Barrens can travel 30 miles. Check which way the wind is blowing.
- Close Windows: If you're in Roselle Park or Atlantic City, the air quality near those structure fires is still pretty sketchy.
- Clear Your Gutters: Even in January, dry leaves in your gutters are a fire hazard if an ember from a neighbor's chimney or a local brush fire lands there.
- Sign up for NJ Alert: This is the state's emergency notification system. They’ll ping your phone if there’s a real evacuation happening.
New Jersey is currently quiet on the wildfire front, but the "ordinary" fires in our homes and businesses are keeping local departments incredibly busy. Stay safe out there, especially with these freezing temperatures making everything more dangerous.
To stay updated, keep an eye on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) social media pages, as they are the first to post when a "prescribed burn" is scheduled for your county.