Large wildfires in NJ were mostly contained, but don’t expect smoky conditions to go away

While firefighters have been able to contain the many large wildfires burning across the state, the smoky conditions residents have experienced as a result were expected to last for several days, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

The conditions are due to the extremely dry conditions, which have enabled the fires to burn down into the duff layer of soil, the service says.

Duff is a layer of partially decomposed organic material that accumulates on the forest floor.

The lack of rain, combined with warm temperatures and gusty winds, has caused three counties — Atlantic County and most of Burlington and Ocean — to experience a rare “extreme” drought. Most other counties in a severe drought.

The service said its crews would still be on the scene at a total of nine wildfires and that it would be to improve containment lines and remove hotspots in these areas.

The fire department also provided updates on the three most recent blazes they have battled over the past few days.

The 350-acre ‘Shotgun’ fire, located in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in the area of ​​Stump Tavern Road in Jackson Jackson Township, was 90% contained as of 1 p.m. 19 Friday, authorities said.

Stump Tavern Road was closed from Route 571 to Route 528 in the city. It will be reassessed daily by the local police and forest fire service to determine when it will be reopened.

The wildfire was initially reported at 12:17 on Wednesday. Initially, 25 structures were threatened by the fire, which caused the evacuation of 15 homes, investigators said. Evacuation orders were lifted at 9pm on Wednesday 6 November.

The Pheasant Run Wildfire, which has burned through 133 acres of the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Gloucester County, was 75% contained as of 1 p.m.

The fire was initially detected by the Blue Anchor Fire Tower at 1.45pm on Thursday. It never threatened any homes in the area and only temporarily forced the closure of a local road that runs through the woods, the service said.

Finally, the 360-acre Bethany Run Wildfire, which is located in the towns of Evesham and Voorhees in Burlington and Camden counties, respectively, was 90% contained as of Friday.

The fire was initially discovered by the Medford Fire Tower at 9:03 a.m. Thursday. The inferno initially threatened 104 structures and forced the evacuation of 12 homes, authorities said. Evacuation orders were lifted at 18.30 the same day.

All local roads once closed due to the fire had reopened on Friday.

The causes of all three fires were still undetermined as of Friday evening.

Investigators urged residents near these fires with respiratory problems to keep their windows closed and limit outdoor activity while the smoky conditions continued.

The Forest Service responded to 507 fire incidents in October, it said this week.