Wildfire in Jackson Township, New Jersey, burns 350 acres; 90% contained
A stubborn wildfire tearing through the northern part of the Pine Barrens in Jackson Township, New Jersey, threatened at least 25 homes.
Courtney Greenhoe and her family were forced to evacuate Wednesday night.
"They were like, 'You guys need to leave like now,'" Greenhoe said. "Literally, just smoke was coming up and I was like what the heck is happening, and it started billowing over to our house."
Firefighters have been working on a backfiring operation, getting ahead of the fire's path to slow its advance and help contain the blaze, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said on social media. The fire, known as the "Shotgun Fire," was reported after noon on Wednesday.
Fire officials said in an update Friday evening that 350 acres were burned and the fire was 90% contained. The NJFFS said Stump Tavern Road is closed from Route 571 to Route 528. Beyond the initial evacuations Wednesday night, there are no evacuations as of Friday evening, the update said.
Video from Chopper 3 on Thursday showed a clear line of fire and smoke winding its way through the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, located just south of Six Flags Great Adventure.
Fire officials said falling leaves, changing winds and the extremely dry conditions have created challenges.
"We're going to need inches of rain, not 1 not 2, but inches of rain to help alleviate the fuel conditions that we currently are experiencing," Jeremy Webber, with NJFFS, said.
The NJFFS said these conditions are the driest they've seen in the history of their department. Since Nov. 1, crews have battled more than 100 fires in the Garden State.
"Yes, crews are obviously getting tired because they've been running, running, running, but we will continue to do our job the best we can," Webber said.
The initial evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday night, and Greenhoe was thankful her home was still standing.
"My husband was on the roof blowing the leaves off the roof just in case, he was wetting everything down with water with the hose," she said.
The fire was reported on a "very high" fire danger day in the state, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Burn restrictions were in effect across New Jersey.
The region is under severe or extreme drought conditions following a record-breaking stretch without rain. Normally, during the fall, leaves fall off the trees and onto somewhat moist or damp ground, officials said. But with the lack of precipitation since August, the dead leaves are very susceptible to any source of ignition.
Officials urged caution with anything that might spark a fire, whether it's a cigarette butt, malfunctioning yard equipment that could produce sparks (like a lawnmower), or a faulty catalytic converter. Dumping ash from a campfire could also spark a blaze.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.