Spring Prescribed Burn of 2026
A prescribed burn is done during early spring. The ground is set on fire, burning all of the brush and lower branches of trees. Much of the oak trees are burned up. Bushes that cover the ground disappear, and lower pitch pine branches are gone. This helps protect the area and surrounding areas from real wildfires. Swamplands also receive protection.
More is Protected
This part, which is toward the edge of Franklin Parker Preserve, is a swamp and marshland that could have been a hardwood or cedar forest. When it is destroyed by fire or flood, the old forest may die, but it will at least come back as a pine forest.
Wildfire of 2025
The major forest fire in 2025 within the New Jersey pine barrens burnt a lot or Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area and Forked River Mountain Preserve. Although some of it is beginning to grow back, this event made many people very unhappy at the subpar person that caused this all to happen. Even though firelanes can help prevent it from spreading, its not always perfect.
When you have a camp fire:
1. You will be careful.
2. You will be cautious.
3. You will orderly.
4. You will be courteous to residents.
5. You will do all of these demands.
It can end very badly for those who let wildfires happen.
Drought of 2024
Throughout later part of summer and the majority of fall of 2024, the drought has caused not only forest fires but also causing some of the swamps to dry up. Many of the swamps in Franklin Parker Preserve get its water through canals from other sources. When those sources can't provide water, the swamp will dry up completely. Like in the photos, you can even see the canals inside the swamps. It is a channel system that helps keep the swamp full of water but a drought can override all of that.
Lowest point holds the little water left
Irrigation canal system after drought