Forest Fire Consumes Hundreds of Acres in Southern New Jersey

A forest fire that has consumed roughly 900 acres in southern New Jersey continued to burn Monday, though no injuries have been reported.

The fire was spotted around 4 p.m. Sunday in the Bass River State Forest in Little Egg Harbor Township, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Agency officials said the blaze is burning inside a large area in Burlington and Ocean counties that has limited accessibility.

Dozens of firefighters were battling the blaze, and crews were setting smaller, controlled fires in some areas to help stop the blaze from spreading.

Some area roadways have been closed due to heavy smoke and other related issues. The fire has not damaged any structures, though roughly 100 homes could be at risk, authorities said.

Voluntary evacuations were occurring in Little Egg, where a shelter had been set up in a township school.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Topics New Jersey