Conditions worsened by a drought last year, which continues in 2026, had a dramatic impact on wildfires in New Jersey, according to the state’s inaugural wildfire report.

However, of 1,322 wildfires that burned 27,229 acres statewide in 2025, nearly all were caused by humans, according to the report. That includes the massive Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County that took 20 days to contain as the result of a bonfire set by youth.

» READ MORE: N.J.’s biggest fire in more than a decade started in area known for illegal bonfires

The figures represent a 22% increase in the number of wildfires and an eye-popping 116% increase in acreage burned compared with the 20-year average.

To date in 2026, New Jersey has logged 589 wildfires that burned 648.5 acres.

Overall, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service’s first wildfire report details a historic, challenging, and highly destructive 2025 for the state’s wildlands.

That came after a demanding fall fire season in 2024. Severe blazes in 2025 not only stretched firefighting resources but also forced thousands of residents from their homes.

“Our wildland firefighters responded to an increased number of wildfires and spent weeks at a time battling fires, often under challenging weather conditions,” Bill Donnelly Sr., chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, wrote in the report, which was released Thursday.

A major wildfire in New Jersey is classified as any blaze reaching or exceeding 100 acres. While the state typically averages 4.75 major fires annually, crews battled nine major wildfires in 2025.

The drought had a big impact as it created tinderboxes in areas such as the Pinelands. Not only did the dryness help spread fires, but it also forced the forest fire service to drastically reduce the amount of acres it intentionally burns in advance.

Firefighters use those prescribed fires, or controlled burns, in strategic areas to reduce dry brush and other vegetation, thus denying future fires fuel.

The drought continues into this June despite some recent heavy downpours. Data from the National Weather Service’s Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center show that Camden County is running a 13-inch rain deficit over the last 12 months.

» READ MORE: South Jersey heads into another summer already parched under the worst rainfall deficit in 20 years

Residents of the state are living amid a prolonged drought warning — the third of four levels of dryness monitored by officials. Parts of South Jersey have been under a drought warning since fall 2024.

But the biggest issue has been people.

Human activity was responsible for an overwhelming 99.6% of New Jersey’s wildfires in 2025, stemming from both accidental and intentional acts, according to the report.

“Whether through accident, carelessness, or even at times intentional acts, human behavior continues to be the primary driver of wildfire activity in our state,” Donnelly said.

Equipment use was the leading cause of fires by volume, sparking 486 individual wildfires that collectively burned 527.5 acres. Lawnmowers, weed trimmers, chain saws, welding tools, grinders, and agricultural harvesting machinery can all create sparks that ignite brush.

However, illegal and improperly managed campfires were responsible for the most devastating destruction, scorching a massive 15,263.75 acres statewide.

The largest incident of the year, the Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean and Lacey Townships, burned 14,949 acres and prompted the evacuation of 7,000 people.

Triggered by an illegal bonfire, the massive blaze threatened more than 1,300 structures and forced the closure of major thoroughfares, including the Garden State Parkway and Route 9. It destroyed a commercial building and triggered power outages affecting 30,000 residents.

Other large incidents included the Mines Spung Wildfire in Burlington County, which consumed 6,610 acres and closed portions of the Batona Trail, and the California Branch Wildfire in Camden County, which burned 2,336 acres.

Firefighters faced increasingly difficult environmental conditions throughout 2025. The report noted a growing trend of prolonged emergency operations, stating that 44% of the major wildfires in 2025 required more than five days to contain due to persistently dry weather.

In response to the escalating wildfire threat, the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget allocated an additional $1 million to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, funding that is expected to be maintained in future budgets. That allowed the addition of six full-time positions.

The remaining $700,000 was used to buy equipment, including a bulldozer and fire engines, and to expand air base operations. The service is also upgrading its communication network by transitioning to a 700 MHz radio system to improve coordination with local and state agencies.

Additionally, the state opened the new Veterans Fire Tower in Jackson Township.

The $2 million, 133-foot structure replaces the decommissioned Lakewood tower and will serve as a vital vantage point to protect nearly 200,000 homes and more than 516,000 residents across Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

The basics:

• Brazil selected the Red Bulls’ new Morris Township complex as its World Cup base
• Facility unites Red Bulls first team, academy and Red Bulls II operations
• RWJBarnabas Health partnership adds advanced sports medicine resources
• Center strengthens NJ’s role in the global soccer landscape

The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center is more than a training facility. It is where Red Bull New York‘s first team, Red Bulls II and academy system now operate under one roof, creating a centralized hub for player development, performance, recovery and innovation. The complex will also serve as the home-away-from-home for one of the top national teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Officially opened in April, the 80-acre Morris Township campus represents the culmination of a yearslong effort to build an environment capable of supporting every stage of a player’s journey — from academy prospect to first-team player.

The team held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility and provided tours of the newly completed complex, where club officials, healthcare leaders and other key stakeholders described a project designed not only to support today’s players but also to shape the future of the organization.

“The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center will serve as a centerpiece for the continued growth of the game in our region and across the country,” said Marc de Grandpré, president and general manager of Red Bull New York.

For de Grandpré, an NJBIZ Power 100 honoree, the project represents more than a new home for the organization. “This facility brings our entire pathway together, from academy to first team, and creates an environment where players can train, develop, and compete at the highest level every day,” said de Grandpré. “It reinforces our commitment to building from within and developing the next generation of players.”

That sentiment echoed throughout the debut event. While the facility’s scale is immediately apparent, executives repeatedly emphasized that the true value lies not in the buildings or fields themselves, but in what they are designed to produce: healthier athletes, stronger player development and a clearer pathway from the club’s already robust academy system to the professional ranks.

Years in the making

The opening of the performance center marked the completion of a vision Red Bull New York leaders spent years pursuing.

Construction began in 2024 on the Morris Township property, but club officials noted during the ribbon cutting that the effort to identify, secure and develop a permanent home for the organization’s soccer operations stretched back far longer – around a decade.

The project brought together a team that included Gensler Architects, March Construction, The LandTek Group and interior design agency Drive21.

The result is an 88,400-square-foot main building spread across two levels and anchored by eight full-size soccer pitches. Six are Kentucky Bluegrass fields grown in New Jersey, one is a Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass field and another is a turf surface. Five of the fields are heated to allow year-round use, while four are illuminated for evening training sessions.

The facility now serves as the permanent home for the club’s first team, Red Bulls II, academy and youth programs.

Main objective

For de Grandpré, bringing the entire organization together was always the objective. “At its core, this facility is about more than infrastructure. It’s about what happens inside – and on these pitches,” he said. “It’s where our first team will prepare to compete at the highest level, where our second team and academy players will develop with a real pathway ahead, and where we will create an environment for people to grow and reach their full potential.”

At its core, this facility is about more than infrastructure. It’s about what happens inside – and on these pitches.
– Marc de Grandpré, president and general manager, Red Bull New York

A walk through the campus reveals a complex designed around virtually every aspect of athlete performance (see more in the slideshow above). The building houses multiple gyms serving both professional and academy players, team meeting rooms, educational spaces, dining facilities, medical areas and recovery resources. Dedicated academy spaces include classrooms, study areas and coaching clinic rooms, allowing youth players to balance their athletic development with educational responsibilities.

Nutrition also plays a prominent role. A full-service kitchen was designed to provide high-performance meals for players, while a demonstration kitchen allows chefs and nutrition specialists to provide meal preparation education to both academy and professional athletes.

High-tech campus

Outside, the fields are equipped with multi-angle camera tracking systems that allow coaches and analysts to monitor performance and support player development.

In fact, technology is embedded throughout the campus. The entire property is covered by high-speed Wi-Fi, allowing staff to collect and analyze performance data through platforms such as Kinexon, which tracks player movement and workload, and GameOn, a video analysis platform used by coaches and performance staff.

The recovery resources are equally extensive. The first-team locker room connects directly to hydrotherapy areas that include hot and cold plunge pools, a temperate treatment and physical therapy pool and a sauna. Players throughout the organization have access to resources designed to support preparation, rehabilitation and recovery.

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Taken together, the facility reflects the growing role sports science plays in modern professional athletics. “I can see how impressive this building is, how big the statement is,” said Jürgen Klopp, Red Bull’s head of global soccer. “This is not about the role soccer played in the past in this country, it’s about the role soccer will play in the future.” Klopp is a renowned former player and coach who led Liverpool to English Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.

Under one roof

Throughout the ribbon-cutting ceremony, speakers returned repeatedly to one theme: development. The facility was intentionally designed to bring players at every stage of the Red Bulls pipeline into the same environment.

Academy prospects now train, learn and develop just steps away from professional players. Coaches, analysts, trainers and medical staff operate within the same ecosystem, creating what club officials view as a clearer pathway to the first team.

Red Bull New York Head of Sport Julian de Guzman said that connection is critical. “Every player’s journey looks different. It’s our job to create the best environments and scenarios for each of them to grow, to develop into their strengths, to understand that there is a real road from where they are to that first team,” said de Guzman. “This facility is that road.”

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber described the complex as a resource for the next generation of players. “The future of this game and the people here – this is for you,” said Garber while addressing academy players attending the event. “We expect you to win trophies, to represent our country and your countries.”

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Garber then offered perhaps the strongest endorsement of the project delivered during the ceremony. “This building is not just one of the best ones in North America,” said Garber. “This rivals the best development cities of any football soccer club in the world.”

Partnership on display

The facility also stands as the most visible symbol of Red Bull New York’s growing relationship with RWJBarnabas Health. Announced in January, the long-term partnership made RWJBarnabas Health the naming-rights partner of the performance center while also establishing the health system as the official hometown health care system and EMS provider of Sports Illustrated Stadium, Red Bull New York, Red Bulls II, academy programs and youth initiatives.

At the ribbon cutting, RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark Manigan said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to performance, innovation and community impact. “This is a partnership built on shared values and common cultures, a belief in innovation and a simple desire to be the very best,” Manigan said.

RWJBarnabas Health is not only the naming-rights partner of the performance center but also of the RWJBarnabas Health Athlete Wellness Lab, a 5,000-square-foot gym and recovery space that serves as a focal point for athlete care throughout the facility. Designed for daily recovery, rehabilitation and preventative care, the wellness lab is used by players, athletic trainers, team physicians and performance staff as part of routine preparation and maintenance. The space supports a range of treatment protocols, including manual therapy, soft tissue work, recovery modalities and return-to-play programming.

The performance center also includes a comprehensive medical suite, innovation lab, physiotherapy spaces and wellness resources designed to support injury prevention, rehabilitation and long-term athlete health.

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Additional features include aquatic therapy spaces, fatigue-detection tools, advanced diagnostic resources and orthobiologic capabilities intended to support advanced treatment and clinical care.

Healthy, fueled and well-rested

Manigan argued that top performances begin long before kickoff. “For the Red Bulls, success means winning. And that’s how we at RWJBarnabas Health measure success, too. But here, success isn’t just what occurs on the pitch – it’s all the things that happen before they walk on and after they walk off,” said Manigan.

He added: “Making sure the players are checked and healthy. Making sure they’re properly fueled. Making sure they rest and recover. And, when an injury does happen, making sure they get back out there stronger than before. When you put it all together, the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center is purpose-built for success.”

Manigan described the opening as an exciting milestone. “What began as a shared vision is now a world-class facility that will support elite athlete performance, advance innovation in sports health and serve as a source of pride for community,” said Manigan.

Dr. Gerardo Chiricolo, the Red Bulls’ chief medical officer who works closely with the club’s training staff and athlete care team, said the facility represents a significant advancement in athlete care. “The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center represents a major step forward in how we care for professional athletes and the next generation,” said Chiricolo. “This facility isn’t just about treating injuries; it’s about preventive care, optimizing recovery and supporting each athlete’s long-term well-being.”

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On the ‘World’ stage

The facility’s quality has already attracted attention well beyond Major League Soccer – globally.

Brazil, five-time World Cup winners, reportedly selected the Morris Township venue earlier this year, and the decision was officially announced in May when the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed it would use the complex as its Team Base Camp training site during the 2026 tournament, which kicked off over the weekend. The team arrived in New Jersey June 2 and have been practicing at the facility, which will operate under the name Columbia Park Training Center.

Pictures and videos of Brazil and its many star players, such as Neymar, practicing at the center and being spotted around New Jersey, have been making the rounds on social media.

“We are proud to welcome the Brazilian National Team to Columbia Park as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup,” said de Grandpré when the selection was announced. “Our Performance Center was built to serve the highest levels of the global game. Brazil’s decision to base here reflects the quality, innovation, and competitive standards embedded in this facility.”

Brazil Head Coach Carlo Ancelotti said the team was drawn to the facility’s modern design and amenities. “We are very pleased with this decision,” said Ancelotti. “The Training Center is new, modern and offers all the conditions for our work, before and during the World Cup. I want to thank Red Bulls for welcoming us and showing us all the space, which was also sought after by other teams.”

Hosting 4 national teams

The selection also represents a win for New Jersey as it takes on a leading role in the world’s largest sporting event, hosting eight matches – including the Final on July 19 – and serving as base camps for four national teams, including Brazil.

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“New Jersey is excited to welcome the world to our state for eight World Cup matches, including the World Cup Final,” said Gov. Mikie Sherrill. “We are thrilled that Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, and Senegal have decided to call the Garden State home.”

During the facility’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, NYNJ Host Committee Board Chair and former First Lady Tammy Murphy pointed to both Sports Illustrated Stadium and the new performance center as assets that helped elevate the region’s standing within the global soccer community.

“I will tell you that without the participation of Red Bull, I’m not sure we would have landed a lot of the games we did here in New Jersey,” said Murphy. “I can tell you that Red Bull, the quality of the stadium, Sports Illustrated Stadium, and now this incredible venue. Those are two really important factors that are attractive to Gianni Infantino and many at FIFA, and it’s one of the big reasons I really do believe that we are awarded with the Final.”

The future of soccer

For Red Bull New York, Brazil’s selection serves as an early endorsement of a facility built to compete with the best in the world. The facility also represents a foundational shift — bringing every level of the organization into a single environment designed to streamline development and elevate performance. For RWJBarnabas Health, it extends a growing footprint in professional sports here in New Jersey that connects clinical expertise with high-performance athletics.

And for Morris Township, it anchors one of the most advanced training complexes in North America — a facility already attracting global attention, and one that will continue to shape how the club develops players for years ahead.

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“This partnership reflects our deep commitment to building a healthier New Jersey—on and off the field—and we are proud to invest in a state-of-the-art facility that will inspire excellence for generations to come,” said Manigan.

Said de Grandpré, “This is where the future of our club takes shape.”