MEDFORD, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — The Flatiron Wildfire in Medford, Burlington County, in the area of Elderberry Drive and Jackson Road, is no longer a threat to homes in the area.
On Saturday, at 6 p.m., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service declared the fire had been 100% contained, after tearing through 210 acres.
The Flatiron Fire started burning shortly after midnight on Saturday and threatened 40 houses and residential structures, according to the Forest Fire Service. Under protection from local fire companies, only one shed was destroyed in the fire.
The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported. The Forest Fire Service says no further updates are expected.
Beth MacAlarney lives within the containment area. While residents were told not to evacuate, she decided to leave anyway.
"The moment [I decided to leave] was looking out the back window, because initially, we couldn't see the flames," she recalled.
"Then when we saw the flames and we saw the entire back side of the property on fire, that was the moment of, I think it's time to go and it smells of smoke in the house. It's not good for us."
Beth MacAlarney
The fire in Medford Township comes on the heels of the Bass River Fire in Ocean County, which is now also 100% contained after having burned more nearly 6,000 acres.
Greg McLaughlin, chief state fire warden of the Forest Fire Service, said a new report on climate change reflected what he has been seeing — that the wildfire season is extending from May into June. He said the Flatiron Wildfire is the ninth major wildfire they've battled so far this year in New Jersey.
"Year to date, the Forest Fire Service has responded to over 2000 incidents statewide. 1,400 of those incidents were wildfires," he said, "and fires in New Jersey, now in that period of time, have burned 26,000 acres."
