New Jersey wildfire risk
Ocean County has the highest wildfire risk in New Jersey, scoring 95.2 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean County | 95.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 2 | Atlantic County | 94.3 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Burlington County | 92.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 4 | Monmouth County | 88.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 5 | Cape May County | 86.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Camden County | 86.3 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Cumberland County | 85.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Gloucester County | 79.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 9 | Middlesex County | 79.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 10 | Mercer County | 73.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | Salem County | 68.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 12 | Sussex County | 36.7 | Very Low | 0 |
| 13 | Somerset County | 35.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 14 | Morris County | 30 | Very Low | 0 |
| 15 | Hunterdon County | 26.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 16 | Warren County | 23.4 | Very Low | 0 |
| 17 | Bergen County | 21.7 | Very Low | 0 |
| 18 | Union County | 16.3 | Very Low | 0 |
| 19 | Passaic County | 16.1 | Very Low | 0 |
| 20 | Essex County | 10.6 | Very Low | 0 |
| 21 | Hudson County | 4.5 | Very Low | 0 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Wildfire risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in New Jersey:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest wildfire risk county in New Jersey?
Ocean County, NJ has the highest wildfire risk in New Jersey, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.2 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes wildfire risk in New Jersey?
Wildfire risk reflects expected annual losses to buildings, population, and agriculture from wildfire, adjusted for social vulnerability and community resilience. High scores cluster in the western US, where dry climate, fuel loads, and seasonal wind patterns combine with rapid suburban development into fire-prone terrain.