Wildfire in New Jersey's Wharton State Forest 90% contained after burning 6,400 acres
A wildfire burning in New Jersey's Wharton State Forest remains 90% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Wednesday afternoon.
The Mines Spung Wildfire in Shamong Township was first spotted near the Carranza Memorial around 5 a.m. on Friday by a private aircraft that was flying over the area. In Wednesday's update, the NJFFS said the fire had burned 6,400 acres.
Crews on the ground were working to put out hot spots, and the agency said "fire activity remains limited to creeping and smoldering within the established containment lines," which is expected to continue until the area in Burlington County gets "substantial rainfall."
All road closures have been lifted, but some trails remain closed, including the Batona Trail between Carranza Road and Quaker Bridge Road and the Batsto River between Hampton Road and Quaker Bridge Road.
Five structures are threatened by the wildfire, the NJFFS said.
On Friday night, NJFFS Chief Bill Donnelly said firefighters were dealing with "serious burning" and had a hard time controlling the fire. About 150 firefighters, 25 fire trucks/brush trucks and 25 fire engines from local departments were assisting with the firefight, Chief Donnelly said.
"The main challenge is we're in a very remote area, Wharton State Forest, so limited access," NJFFS assistant firewarden David Achey said. "No cellphone service communications have been a little bit of an issue, but we're working on straightening that kind of stuff out. So, just the remoteness of the location and the fuels we're dealing with. This is the heart of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, so very volatile fuels."
The smoke impacted air quality around Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Friday night and into Saturday. By Sunday, Delaware was the only area where an air quality alert remained in effect.
The Lower Forge Campground and Phillip M. Costello Preparatory Academy were evacuated on Friday as a precaution, according to the NJFFS.
Five homes near the fire were told to shelter in place, Donnelly said. No injuries have been reported.
Brittney Poulysyn, who lives down the street on Carranza Road, said she's been keeping tabs on the fire.
"I saw smoke down this way, down Forked Neck Road, I saw smoke," she said while pointing down the road. "I keep track of it on the PulsePoint app, and we have the local Facebook group pages."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
