HAMMONTON, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Fire crews have contained a fast-moving fire that broke out at Wharton State Forest near Hammonton late Sunday night and burned 1,800 acres.
Officials say the fire started somewhere south of the Atsion Lake area in the Pine Barrens.
Albert Valentino with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service says crews worked hard overnight to get controled burns going, and the weather worked in their favor.
"The rain did help," valentino said. "Our manpower was here very quickly, and we established the burnout operation to control the fire. And the rain is helping to keep it minimal."
In all, Valentino says the 1,800 acres includes the land firefighters had to burn to contain the fire.
Officials say no homes or businesses were in danger.
Crews are spending Monday morning trying to figure out the cause of the fire. Officials say it could have been man made or natural, a lightning strike for example.