New Jersey does not use California-style wildfire hazard zones, but the state Forest Fire Service manages wildfire risk in Passaic County's forested north, and can impose stage restrictions banning open and ground fires during high danger.
Passaic County has no formal wildfire-zone building code, and New Jersey does not designate mapped high-fire-hazard severity zones the way western states do. Instead, the NJ Forest Fire Service monitors fire danger and manages wildland fire across the state, including the county's wooded northern townships such as West Milford, Ringwood, and Wanaque bordering forest and reservoir lands. When conditions warrant, the state issues stage restrictions: Stage 1 bans ground fires in wooded areas, Stage 2 permits only elevated grills or gas stoves, and Stage 3 allows only electric or liquid/gas fuel. Homeowners near woodlands should reduce fuels around structures and heed all posted fire-danger levels.
Violating a stage restriction or setting a fire without required permission can bring fines up to $5,000 plus reimbursement of firefighting costs.
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