1 NJ Forest Fire Contained, Second Continues To Burn Near Atlantic City Expressway
By Crystal Cranmore, Molly Daly and Oren Liebermann
WINSLOW TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS/AP) - Firefighters are making progress as they deal with two wildfires in Winslow Township, New Jersey. The smaller fire, which has burned 25 acres in the Piney Hollow area, is 100-percent contained and under control. The larger fire is expected to consume about 375 acres by the time it's fully contained. The DEP's Larry Ragonese says firefighters have set several back fires to contain that blaze:
"In particular, one near the Expressway, and folks who are driving and may see some more smoke and fire should not be alarmed that a fire is coming to get the. In fact, we have professionally created one to battle that blaze"
As of late Friday afternoon, the larger fire was about 50 percent contained.
Although rumors have been flying that the blazes were set, or sparked by controlled burns, Ragonese says they don't know the cause of the fires, and whatever's being said is complete speculation.
Crews were called out to the Winslow Fish and Wildlife Management Area in Winslow Township early in the morning.
The bigger of the two fires is burning alongside the Atlantic City Expressway, but a strong wind was blowing smoke away from the roadway, which remained open, according to Steve Maurer, a warden with the fire service.
"We're working hard with the State Police to mitigate any traffic problems that might arise from this," Maurer said.
Some commuters decided to get a closer look.
"We decided to take a ride up here on the expressway and it's burning out of control," said Tim Ruggeri.
Ruggeri spotted the fire from the road and came for an up close look with his son.
"We could see that the smoke was getting darker and it was getting closer. It was traveling north, northwest and it was getting darker," added Ruggeri.
The main fire was expected to burn only 150 acres before it reached the edge of containment areas set up on all four sides of it, Maurer said. But that fire quickly grew throughout the afternoon. The flames covered about thirty acres early Friday morning, but the fire was so far back in the woods, it was tough to stop its spread.
Smoke was visible as far away as Atlantic City, 30 miles to the east, and Trenton, 34 miles to the north.
"We feel without any other high winds and without any changes in the weather, we should be able to contain it," said Chris Parker, Acting State Firewarden.
No evacuations were ordered as both fires were in uninhabited areas and did not present a threat to any homes, according to authorities. Firefighters say the fire is suspicious because it started at the same time as the other fire nearby.
A fire Thursday in Lacey Township burned six acres of marshland and a half-acre of forest, briefly threatening some homes (see related story)
A Red Flag Warning is in effect and fire officials say gusty north winds, 60 degree temperature and low humidity are prime conditions for these fires.
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