A wildfire began burning at a munitions facility in New Jersey Pine Barrens on Tuesday where weapons testing had been scheduled for the morning hours.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded around 2:15 p.m. to the Warren Grove Air to Ground Range in Ocean County. The range covers 9,400 acres and 60 miles of airspace, according to the New Jersey National Guard.
Little Egg Harbor Township police on Tuesday cautioned residents about potential loud noises coming from the facility, as testing was scheduled for between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
State firefighters said they were at the range assessing the wildfire on Tuesday afternoon. The fire reached 150 acres by around 4:30 p.m., but no structures were threatened by the flames, state firefighters said. No evacuations were ordered.
Officials at the base did not immediately return a request for comment.
Combat aircraft and helicopters from across the Northeast take part in live fire tests day and night at the range, according to the National Guard’s website. It’s considered one of the most utilized National Guard ranges in the United State.
The facility, which is secluded from roads by dense forests, is about 34 miles south of Joint Base Maguire-Dix, one of the largest military facilities in New Jersey.
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