Are backyard fire pits banned in N.J. because of the drought? Here’s what the

If you live in New Jersey and you want to light a fire pit in your backyard tonight, you might be violating the state’s fire restrictions that went into effect this week to help reduce the risk of serious wildfires.

The mandatory fire restrictions, announced Monday, “prohibit all fires unless they are contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas or electricity,“ the state Department of Environmental Protection said in a press release issued Wednesday afternoon.

“No wood or charcoal fires are allowed, and the use of kerosene or gas torches of any kind is prohibited while this level of restriction is in place,” the agency added.

The DEP noted that the fire restrictions are not just limited to parks, forests and recreation areas.

“The fire ban is in place on all public lands and private properties in all municipalities throughout the state,” the agency said.

Although the ban doesn’t specifically mention fire pits, it makes it clear that any type of ground fire is prohibited. The exceptions are elevated devices that are powered by propane, electricity or natural gas, because those types of burners have shut-off switches.

Based on that, raised fire pits that use propane, natural gas or electricity are permitted. Fire pits that use other sources of fire, like wood or charcoal, are not allowed as long as the fire restrictions continue.

While the restrictions may seem drastic, state officials say they are necessary to help prevent small fires from growing larger or spreading out of control.

They said they are particularly concerned about the next few days, because more dry weather with very low humidity is expected, along with wind gusts that may grow stronger than 20 mph.

The combination of low humidity, extremely dry brush and gusty winds could set the stage for fast-moving wildfires.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service, which has already seen an uptick in fires during this unusually dry autumn, said it has “contracted additional aerial resources capable of dropping 600 gallons of water at a time to stage in the event of a wildfire.”

In addition, “observers in fire towers across the state are vigilantly watching for any signs of wildfires, while measuring weather readings daily that include temperature, humidity, along with a drought index, which has indicated unprecedented dry conditions.

“This has raised concern about the potential rapid spread of wildfires in the state,” the forest fire service noted.

“We are currently experiencing some of the driest conditions ever, making our forests, in particular the sprawling Pinelands region of southern New Jersey, especially vulnerable to wildfires that could spread very quickly and threaten property,” DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said.

“It is critical that members of the public be extra cautious about fire prevention and refrain from using any open flames,” he added.

Red flag warnings in 11 counties

Because of the extremely dry conditions and elevated wildfire threat, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag fire warning in 11 New Jersey counties for Thursday.

The warning covers Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Ocean, Salem and western Monmouth.

It will be effective from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, when light westerly winds are forecast to gust up to 30 mph at times.

“A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels,” the weather service noted. “Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain.”