Wildfire in Franklin Township, New Jersey, is 100% contained, officials say
A wildfire burning in Franklin Township, Gloucester County, has been 100% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
Officials say the "Scotland Run Wildfire" has burned about 191 acres and was 100% contained by 8 a.m. Thursday. The wildfire happened in a private forest behind homes.
Jonathan Knapp, a section fire warden with the NJFFS, said the damp air overnight helped firefighters contain the blaze. Knapp said the wildfire will still burn until the area gets rain, which is forecasted for Sunday.
"The fire is going to burn until it rains," Knapp said. "Ultimately, it's just like the West Coast. New Jersey really is like California. Fires this time of the year, as dry as it is, they [burn] for days and days until we do get significant rain."
Crews began a "backfire operation" Wednesday night behind homes near the blaze to contain the wildfire.
The NJFFS said crews picked up smoke from the wildfire from one of their towers at about 3:20 p.m.
Proposed and Pennsylvania avenues in the area of the wild remain open for local traffic, according to the NJFFS.
The NJFFS was at the scene with fire engines and ground crews, and six local departments also helped. An NJFFS helicopter was also at the scene earlier Wednesday.
Firefighters were at the scene of the wildfire overnight, the NJFFS said. No firefighters have been injured in the blaze.
Megan Miller lives near the fire and said seeing the flames from their backdoor sent her family into a panic.
"We started packing up some stuff now, just in case ... we would pack the cars and go ... memorabilia, some photos, our fire safe, just stuff that really meant something to us and that we don't think we could really live without," Miller said.
Miller added that the family has three cats and 10 chickens they would also bring along if they have to evacuate.
Officials have not issued any evacuation warnings.
"Right now, it's cooling off pretty good, so that's been really helpful," NJFFS Chief Bill Donnelly said. "It's definitely dry and that's certainly a factor when dealing with these fires."
The Scotland Run Wildfire is New Jersey's third major wildfire of the year, meaning it burned 100 acres or more at once.
"Fire season is a thing of the past," Knapp said. "Fire season now, it's all year round."
New Jersey remains under a drought warning. Knapp said that despite some precipitation over the winter, significant rainfall is still needed.
"Consistent rain for periods and periods of time," Knapp said. "I mean, you would need almost a foot of rain."
After a record-setting fall, the NJFFS is expecting a busy spring if conditions persist.
"We're really ramping up to be ready, set, go all the time this spring and it's going to mean hopefully we get some rain, but it's not looking promising," Knapp said.
Investigators are still working on determining the cause of the fire.
