A massive wildfire spread to nearly 4,000 acres of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, prompting evacuations as firefighters worked to contain the blaze, officials said Wednesday.
The fire in Manchester Township was 50% contained Wednesday morning after reaching 3,859 acres — or more than six miles — of federal, state and private land, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.
Responders battled 200-foot flames but haven’t reported any injuries. About 170 households in the area were evacuated.
“We left so fast I didn’t even bring socks,” said resident Cynthia Tiemper, who evacuated Tuesday night with her husband. “It was like, ‘You grab the dog, I’ll grab this and let’s go.’ When we got back here this morning and saw that everything was still here, it was like prayers had been answered.”
Officials are investigating what caused the fire, which began Tuesday afternoon on the military’s Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County, authorities said.
The response to the blaze included 75 firefighters, 15 fire engines, and helicopters that dumped local lake water onto the flames. Forecasters say rain isn’t in the forecast until the weekend.
“This fire exhibited extreme fire behavior,” said John Cecil, an assistant commissioner with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “I don’t mean to be dramatic, but this was a severe situation that these guys and gals managed to keep in a place and protect lives and property from that.”
Located between Philadelphia and the New Jersey coast, the Pine Barrens cover 1.1 million acres. The Department of Environmental Protection considers mid-March to May to be peak wildfire season in New Jersey due to warmer weather that decreases humidity and brings stronger winds.
“The continuing impacts of climate change mean our state is experiencing more severe weather conditions, storms, wind and drought that can result in a longer wildfire season,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said earlier this month.
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