DEP: Penn State Forest Fire Almost 100 Percent Contained

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP — The forest fire just north of Lake Oswego in Burlington County should be 100 percent contained later today, a spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection said.

As of Tuesday morning, the fire was still 90 percent contained, said spokesperson Caryn Shinske.

"A flight done yesterday over the fire showed that there was still some interior burning going on, but the fire was well within containment lines," she said.

The fire so far has burned through 843 acres of private and state lands in Penn State Forest. The smoke from the blaze is wafting into both Stafford and Barnegat Townships, she said.

The blaze was first spotted Sunday afternoon by the Cedar Bridge and Batso firetowers at 2:07 p.m. At first only fifty acres were involved, but a sea breeze sprung up and the fire quickly grew to 843 acres, Shinske said.

The state Forest Fire Service and volunteer firefighters from Chatsworth, Green Bank, New Gretna and Lower Bank helped fight the fire.

The Oswego Lake Recreation Area was reopened on Monday afternoon, she said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the state Forest Fire Service, the New Jersey State Park Police, the New Jersey State Police and the Burlington County Fire Marshal's Office.

No evacuations have been needed and no injuries have been reported, Shinske said.

Photo: Courtesy of New Jersey State Forest Fire Service