EnviroPolitics Blog

Jersey Pinelands fire continues to rage; arson suspect, 19, arrested

By Raven Santana, NJ Spotlight News Correspondent | April 24, 2025 |

As of Thursday afternoon, the Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County was 50% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Officials announced that a 19-year-old man was arrested on arson charges related to the massive wildfire. Prosecutors say Joseph Kling of Waretown allegedly started a bonfire with wooden pallets in the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area but failed to fully extinguish the bonfire before he left. Kling is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a hearing.

The fire was fueled by drought, blustery winds and relatively low humidity. No homes were damaged and officials have not reported any injuries. One business in Lacey Township that backs up to the woods was destroyed along with several vehicles.

Robert Nosti, the president and co-owner of Liberty Door & Awning, says he’s still coming to terms with the damage from the Jones Road fire, which destroyed his family-run business. “The next morning, it’s surreal, complete devastation; your whole life flashes in front of you,” Nosti said.

Hot spots remained visible Thursday in the charred forest.

David Robinson, the New Jersey state climatologist, says with the winds picking up, the air quality is “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

“There’s a chance that our prolonged drought was part of the issue. The fact that we had a fire after ten days without any rain and dry conditions, windy days, warm days is recipe particularly in the spring for fire,” Robinson said. “Once the fire is extinguished, the air quality should improve rather quickly even at the local scale. What you really need is some rain to come down and clean out the atmosphere.”

Robinson says there’s rain in the forecast for the weekend, which will help firefighters to completely contain the wildfire.

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NJDEP: We still have a lot to do to contain Jersey shore wildfire

If you like this post, you’ll love our daily environmental newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed daily with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Please do not take our word for it, try it free for a full month

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NJ Republican Senators call for action on forest fire prevention and energy costs

As New Jersey faces escalating challenges, state senators are intensifying their calls for urgent action on two critical fronts: forest fire prevention and energy cost reform.

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor, April 23, 2025

In the wake of massive wildfires devastating New Jersey, Senators Parker Space (R-24) and Latham Tiver (R-8) are urging the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, where Democrats hold a majority, to convene a hearing with state and local officials to address forest management practices.

Despite their formal request in February, no hearing has been scheduled.

“Abnormally high winds and dry conditions have significantly increased the risk of wildfires,” said Sen. Space. “Our hearts go out to the thousands of residents forced to evacuate and the brave fire servicemembers battling the flames. These fires highlight the urgent need to reassess and strengthen our forest management strategies.”

A massive wildfire in Ocean County’s Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area has already consumed 12,500 acres, forcing evacuations under a state of emergency. Days earlier, another fire in Cumberland County’s Peaslee Wildlife Management Area burned over 1,300 acres.

Sen. Tiver emphasized the need for immediate action: “While discussions about food waste (the topic of discussion today in the state legislature’s joint environmental committees) are important, we cannot delay addressing an issue that is literally burning before our eyes. It’s time for the Legislature, the Governor, and the DEP to step up and confront this escalating threat head-on.”

Energy Costs: A Call for Accountability

Meanwhile, at today’s New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) hearing, the board approved a staff recommendation for public electric utility companies to propose measures to defer energy bill increases until after the election. Senators Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) and Michael Testa (R-01) criticized the move as a political gimmick.

“It’s a five-alarm fire in the Democrat Party to contain the fallout of their costly, failing energy policies,” said Sen. Bucco. “This isn’t relief; it’s a smokescreen. New Jerseyans need accountability, transparency, and real reform—not more political theater.”

Sen. Testa echoed these sentiments, calling the BPU’s actions “dishonest and irresponsible.” He recently introduced legislation (S-4285) to abolish the NJBPU, arguing that the agency has failed to protect consumers. Senate Republicans have also proposed the “Energy Security and Affordability Act” (S-2839) to prioritize in-state energy sources and require economic impact analyses for energy projects.

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Ecobat touts opening 3 lithium-ion battery recycling plants in a year

The company says the recycling facilities are capable of processing 10,000 tons of lithium-ion batteries annually, with plans to scale capacity to 25,000 tons.

Lithium-ion batteries form a battery pack utilized in electric vehicles. 3d render

By Chris Voloschuk, Associate Editor, Recycling Today

Ecobat, a Dallas-based battery recycler, has announced the successful commissioning of three lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling facilities within one year.

The facilities, located in Hettstedt, Germany; Casa Grande, Arizona; and Darlaston, England, are fully operational, the company says, and, together, are capable of processing up to 10,000 tons of LIBs per year, with plans to scale capacity to 25,000 tons.

Ecobat says the newly commissioned plants focus on the production of black mass material derived from recycled LIBs, which are rich in lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and graphite content. Ecobat says black mass plays a crucial role in enabling the closed-loop production of batteries, reducing the need for new mining and supporting the development of sustainable battery supply chains.

The three facilities are strategically located to meet growing demand for sustainable solutions in key global markets, according to the company:

Commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Hettstedt facility processes a wide variety of battery chemistries, including electric vehicle (EV) packs, portable electronics, e-bikes and power tools. Ecobat says the facility serves major automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and collection programs across Europe.
Commissioned in April 2024, the Casa Grande facility works directly with automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers and electronic scrap recyclers to process batteries and recover black mass to serve both the North American and global markets.
Commissioned in November 2024, the Darlaston site serves as a “critical hub” for Ecobat’s operations across the United Kingdom and the wider European market, it says. The facility processes a range of LIB types and provides diagnostic services and supports sustainable material flows in the British supply chain.

Read the full story here

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NYC air threatened by smoke from Jersey Pinelands wildfire

A health advisory is already in place for Thursday, with the city’s air quality index projected to reach unhealthy levels due to the incoming smoke.

By Giulia Heyward, Gothamist

Smoke from a massive wildfire burning in southern New Jersey is expected to drift into New York City’s skies by Wednesday evening.

The city’s emergency management agency issued a warning Wednesday afternoon, saying it remains “uncertain” exactly when — and where — the wildfire smoke will reach the five boroughs.

The Jones Road Wildfire, which began Tuesday in Ocean County — about 85 miles from Manhattan — was only 35% contained as of 1 p.m., according to the latest update from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

The 12,000-acre blaze has already destroyed multiple buildings, vehicles, and at least one commercial property.

It’s among New Jersey’s most severe wildfires in recent years, said Alex Staarmann, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

“We are kind of in the peak of the wildfire season, especially in southern New Jersey,” he said. “Usually mid to especially late spring, when we start having much warmer days, the air usually gets much drier.”

Staarmann added that it’s not unusual for smoke from large wildfires to affect air quality in neighboring states. “It’s difficult to stop it once it gets going,” he said.

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Wildfire in NJ: Thousands of Acres Burned, Emergency Declared

By Pat Sharkey, TapInto Barnegat Published April 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM

SOUTHERN OCEAN COUNTY, NJ – As of Wednesday morning, April 23, 2025, the fast-moving wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey, which started on Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, continues to burn, but significant progress has been made.

Here’s the latest information from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service:

Key Updates:

Evacuation Orders Lifted: All mandatory evacuation orders for Ocean and Lacey Townships have been lifted, and residents are allowed to return to their homes. This includes areas west of the Garden State Parkway to Route 9.
Roads Reopened: The Garden State Parkway has reopened between Barnegat and Lacey Roads (exits 63 and 74). Route 9 has also reopened from Lakeside Drive to County Road 532. However, some secondary and tertiary roads may still be closed.
Containment: As of late Tuesday night, the fire was reported to be about 10% contained after burning approximately 8,500 acres (over 13 square miles). An update on containment is expected at a press conference later this morning.
Initially, over 1,300 structures were threatened by the fire. Authorities have stated that no homes have been harmed in Ocean Township, but there are reports of some structural damage in Lacey Township. Damage assessments are underway.
Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) had cut power to about 25,000 customers as a safety precaution. Power is expected to remain out for some time, with no specific timetable for restoration.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
There have been no immediate reports of injuries.
Acting Governor Tahesha Way has declared a State of Emergency for Ocean County to facilitate the movement of resources to the affected area.