Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has taken steps to restore the environment following a recent wildfire. Volunteers from JCP&L's Green Team planted over 300 trees at Toms River’s Winding River Park on April 25, as the Jones Road wildfire continued to burn nearby. The trees were donated by FirstEnergy, JCP&L's parent company.
Ray Vender, advanced forestry specialist and chairperson of JCP&L’s Green Team, expressed pride in their environmental efforts: “We’re proud of our commitment to restoring nature and building a greener, cleaner, healthier community for our customers.” The initiative included planting native species such as American beech and sugar maple. This event was part of FirstEnergy’s Earth and Arbor Day activities.
The tree-planting followed a request from N.J. Forest Fire Service officials for JCP&L to de-energize power lines near the fire site in Lacey Township for safety reasons. This resulted in a temporary power outage affecting 25,000 customers. Power was restored after inspections, although the fire continued to spread across more than 15,000 acres.
Vender highlighted the dedication of volunteers: “We have Green Teams volunteers here planting trees in Toms River that 48 hours ago were at the site of the fire as a part of that response.”
FirstEnergy's Green Team program has donated and planted over 100,000 trees since its inception in 2020. In 2024 alone, nearly 650 employees volunteered to plant almost 34,000 trees. The goal for 2025 is set at an additional 25,000 trees.
In previous years, JCP&L’s Green Team has also contributed to restoration efforts following natural disasters. In Howell Township in 2023, they planted over a dozen trees after a tornado hit the area.
Reflecting on these efforts, Vender stated: “We live and work in one of the greatest states in the country... And just as we are committed to restoring power in areas devastated by natural disasters and wildfires, we believe strongly in restoring the beauty in nature and our environment.”