HAMMONTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A forest fire in South Jersey, burning since Sunday night, has reached 12,000 acres. New Jersey Forest Fire Service has the fire 70% contained.
Chief Greg McLaughlin said Monday that crews have had to move to a strategy of having controlled burns to contain the fire. It is not clear how long it will take to get to 100% containment. He said 18 structures are at risk, including blueberry and cranberry farms, campgrounds and historic sites.
Thick, dark smoke on Monday has surrounded anything and anyone nearby and can be seen from miles and miles away. The air has been filled with bits of ash floating down like snowflakes, and the potent odor of burning trees was overwhelming and impossible to avoid.
McLaughlin said there is a possibility that 15,000 acres could burn, and that the fire has the potential to be the largest in New Jersey since 2007.
The fire service says crews will continue backfiring, or controlled burning, in an effort to get the situation under control.
“To light the fire, to fight fire with fire, and then burn out all the vegetation, essentially around the fire so it cannot spread any further in all directions," said McLaughlin.
Near historic Batsto Village in Washington Township, in the middle of it all, fire companies have what they call "structure protection" in place to keep the fire from damaging buildings in the area. The scene was like the set of a disaster movie.
The Mullica River and Lower Forde campgrounds were closed, as well as the Mullica River trail and boat launches. Kayak and canoe trips are suspended. The Paradise Lakes Campground was evacuated.
There was a music festival called Beardfest at Paradise Lakes over the weekend. Organizers posted on Facebook that they were forced to leave. Fortunately, the staff and attendees got out safely.
There have been no reports of anyone getting hurt.
The fire was first spotted around 10 a.m. Sunday in a remote part of the forest. The cause of the fire was not initially known, but unfortunately the pleasant weather may be to blame for keeping it going, as breezy and dry conditions have been fueling the blaze.
New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette said human-made fires spread far too often.
“I don’t think anyone wants to see thousands of acres of our Pinelands go up in smoke, but all of our actions have consequences," LaTourette said.
“It’s important to recognize that because it places us within our power to avoid circumstances like this.”
Officials said early on Monday afternoon they have monitoring the air quality and they were not evacuating nearby homes and businesses at that time.
Drivers have been advised to avoid the area. Authorities are asking no one to fly drones over that area because that kind of activity interferes with the work of the fire crews.
For more from KYW Newsradio:
- Download the Audacy App
- Listen live
- Listen on your smart speaker