In 2025, 27,229 acres burned during N.J.’s wildfire season. Climate change is making them harder to contain

SUSAN PHILLIPS / WHYY – Climate change is making New Jersey’s wildfires harder to contain and prolonging its fire season, according to the 2025 Wildfire Report from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Last year’s wildfire season broke records, with 1,322 wildfires burning 27,229 acres, according to the report. That marked a 22% increase in the number of wildfires, while the amount of acreage burned more than doubled, increasing 116% compared to the 20-year average …