New Jersey Opens First Fire Tower in 78 Years To Combat Wildfire Threats

New Jersey dedicated the Veterans Fire Tower in Jackson Township on Wednesday. It's the first new fire tower built in the state in 78 years. The 133-foot structure will help protect over 516,000 residents and 200,000 homes across Ocean and Monmouth counties.

The tower is part of a statewide network of 21 fire towers that serve as early detection systems for wildfires. Trained observers scan the horizon for signs of smoke. They work with nearby towers to triangulate and pinpoint locations of potential wildfires.

"Our claim to fame is the early detection and rapid response, so early detection starts in these fire towers," said New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly, according to CBS Philadelphia.

The dedication comes as the state enters peak wildfire season, which runs from mid-March through mid-May. Officials conducted a demonstration of prescribed fire operations during the event. Eight acres burned to reduce forest fuels that raise wildfire dangers.

Justin Sauers will be stationed in the new tower. He told CBS Philadelphia that observers provide critical information to ground crews. "All day you're looking for smoke and what the smoke is doing for the guys on the ground," Sauers said. "When you're under the column, there's not really a lot you can see other than the fire itself, and it's on us to determine what the winds are changing, what the fire is doing, and giving them an overall view of the fire itself."

The structure replaces the former Lakewood Fire Tower, located five miles east. A 100-year lease for that tower expired in 2024. The new location offers better wildfire detection coverage. Views from the former tower were partially blocked by a nearby water tower.

Fitzpatrick & Associates Inc. of Eatontown built the tower for $2 million. The project was funded through the state's Corporate Business Tax revenue in accordance with the Preserve New Jersey Act.

Officials cited climate change as a factor in the increase of annual fire-prone weather days. In 2025, the Forest Fire Service responded to over 1,300 wildfires that burned more than 27,000 acres. The Jones Road Wildfire in April 2025 scorched 15,300 acres. It destroyed a commercial building, vehicles, and Atlantic white cedar forests.

Tower observers can detect fires before 9-1-1 calls start coming in. According to the state, over 50% of wildfires are first spotted from towers. Observers can see 15 to 20 miles in the distance from the top of the new structure.

The Forest Fire Service plans to treat 25,000 acres of forests, grasslands, and marshes with prescribed fire this year. Last year, the service treated only 3,958 acres due to a prolonged drought. On average, 1,100 wildfires burn around 5,000 acres each year in the state.