The Pine Barrens are not only a refuge for unique plants and animals, but also a place that challenges our ideas of what a forest should be—wild, unpredictable, and shaped by flames.

Fires are tied to the history of the pine barrens, now at 105,000 acres, down from what experts believe at one time was a quarter of a million acres. Skip to content Menu Today's paper.

The early evening of July 2, 2020, was pleasant by Jersey summer standards: clear, calm with low humidity after the daytime temperature peaked at 94 degrees. It was a good time to venture into the ...

Illegal dumping at the pine barrens is a continuing problem, according to the sheriff's office and the DEC. Smith said there are dozens of dumping cases in the preserve each year.

The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is located in southeastern New Jersey. It's a sprawling ecosystem covering about 1.1 million to 1.4 million acres (445,000 to 567,000 hectares).

In "The Pine Barrens," an influential book that prompted former state governor Brendan T. Byrne to launch a successful effort to preserve what is now the National Pinelands Reserve, McPhee calls ...

Second person charged with arson in New Jersey Pine Barrens fire. May 3, 2025. Firefighters battle a wildfire in Ocean County, N.J. on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

A fast-moving wildfire engulfing part of New Jersey's Pine Barrens has not resulted in any injuries, officials said, though it's expected to grow before forecast rain later this week.

Suspect identified in illegal dumping of household trash in Pine Barrens. Sep 01, 2022, 9:09am Updated on Sep 01, 2022. By: News 12 Staff.

Last month, a wildfire in the Pine Barrens threatened over a dozen homes in Little Egg Harbor, not far from the site of a massive forest fire in 2007 at an Air National Guard target range.