At least five wildfires are actively burning across New Jersey Saturday morning as gusty winds, dry brush and low humidity provide fueling conditions for fire activity. New York City, Connecticut, Long Island,

New Jersey has battled 306 wildfires since Oct. 20, up from about 28 during the same period last year. Connecticut has responded to nearly 150 in the past month, after facing just five in 2023. This past October was the driest on record in New Jersey; Connecticut is experiencing its most parched stretch since 1905.

The fire in Jackson, in the central portion of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, had grown to less than half a square mile (1.2 square kilometers) and was 40% contained as of mid-morning Thursday, said Deale Carey, incident commander for the fire service.