Crews Battle Fire Inside Wharton State Forest
By Molly Daly
HAMMONTON, NJ (CBS) -- Crews have contained a large fire that's burned about 1,600 acres in New Jersey's Wharton State Forest.
The fire is burning about four miles northeast of Batsto Village, a historic site dating back to the 1760s. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Michael Achey says the blaze was reported around 3:30 Sunday afternoon.
"The Blue Anchor Forest Fire lookout tower and the Batsto Forest Fire Service lookout tower both spotted the smoke at about the same time," he says.
Achey also says that about 40 firefighters with 10 wildland engines -- four wheel drive fire engines made specifically for battling wildfires -- attacked the blaze.
By late Monday afternoon, it was 100-percent contained, and is not expected to spread. But Achey says it's not over yet.
"It does not mean that the fire's not going to continue to burn inside the perimeter. In fact, it will burn until we get significant measurable rain," he explains.