SOUTH JERSEY (AP/ KYW Newsradio) — Firefighters in New Jersey were stretched even thinner on Friday when another wildfire broke out in the state’s bone-dry conditions.
At least four wildfires were burning in the state, stretching from the Pinelands in the central and western parts of the state to the New York City suburbs.
The latest fire broke out along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County, across the Hudson River from New York. It was smaller than the three others burning in New Jersey, each of which had burned less than a square mile as of late Thursday.
Those fires, in Jackson, Glassboro and Evesham, were between 50% and 80% contained Friday. The Englewood Cliffs fire was 30% contained, and no homes were threatened by it.
Dry conditions
Conditions were even more hazardous Friday than they were the day before, with the National Weather Service issuing a red flag warning calling for gusty winds and low humidity that could help spread fires quickly.
New Jersey has not received measurable precipitation in over a month, the weather service said, setting a new record.
South Jersey fires
Firefighters have gotten the upper hand on a wildfire in the Marlton area. Officials said it’s 75% contained over 360 acres, and with a red flag warning in effect, some equipment is being diverted to other fires in the state.
Although more than 100 structures are considered threatened, evacuation orders were lifted in the Kettle Run area of Marlton and Voorhees.
Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly said they really could use an assist from Mother Nature.
“Hopefully we get some precipitation in the not-so-distant future and we can start putting some of these wildfires to bed and give our folks a break,” he said.
Until then, Assistant Fire Warden Trevor Raynor said they have to stay on their toes.
“We’re going to keep patrolling this fire, making sure things are good, and keep upping that containment percentage and just keep responding to fires throughout the state here.”