Red Flag Wildfire Warning Issued In 9 NJ Counties As New Fire Burns

NEW JERSEY — A red flag warning for wildfire danger has been issued for nine New Jersey counties on Tuesday, just as authorities are fighting a new wildfire in Burlington County.

The National Weather Service said the red flag warning, for gusty winds and low relative humidity, is in effect until 8 p.m.. Monmouth, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, northwestern and southeastern Burlington, Ocean, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May counties are affected by the warning.

Those conditions make it easier for a fire to spread rapidly, the weather service said. Winds are from the west at 15 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph, and the temperatures are expected to reach the upper 50s. The relative humidity is as low as 20 to 30 percent.

The warning was issued just as a new wildfire broke out in Burlington County. It follows three large wildfires in the state last week, including a 3,859-acre fire in Manchester and a 1,600-acre fire in Little Egg Harbor, both in Ocean County, and a 972-acre fire in West Milford in Passaic County.

Read more: Wildfire Burning In Burlington County: Avoid The Area

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service additionally increased campfire restrictions in five counties on Tuesday, because of the heightened risk of wildfires because of continued dry, warm conditions.

Stage 3 campfire restrictions are in place from south of the Raritan River in Middlesex County to north of the Mullica River. That includes all of Monmouth and Ocean counties, Burlington County, and all of Mercer County except Hopewell Township, the service said.

In addition, the National Weather Service in Mount Holly issued a red flag warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity, in effect until 8 p.m., for Monmouth, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, northwestern and southeastern Burlington, Ocean, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Cape May counties.

Those conditions make it easier for a fire to spread rapidly, the weather service said. Winds are from the west at 15 to 20 mph, gusting to 30 mph, and the temperatures are expected to reach the upper 50s. The relative humidity is as low as 20 to 30 percent.

Under Stage 3 campfire restrictions, all fires in wooded areas are prohibited "unless contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas, gas, or electricity. No charcoal fires are allowed."

Areas north of the Raritan River and south of the Mullica River received a "substantial amount" of rain over the weekend, the forest fire service said.

Read more:

• No Homes Lost: How Firefighters Prevented 'Catastrophe' In Manchester
• 1,600-Acre Forest Fire Fully Contained In Southern Ocean