510-Acre Wildfire Fully Contained In South Jersey

WHARTON STATE FOREST, NJ — A wildfire that scorched 510 acres of Wharton State Forest has been fully contained.

The County Line Wildfire, detected Wednesday morning, spread into portions of Waterford Township in Camden County and Shamong Township, Burlington County. It was New Jersey's largest forest fire of the calendar year as the state endures its peak wildfire season.

Flames were 100 percent contained as of 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. No injuries were reported, and no homes or buildings were ever at risk of damage, officials said.

The Forest Fire Service will remain on-scene to monitor the site until there's significant precipitation. Smoke may be visible for some time as crews mop up the wildfire.

"Motorists traveling in the area should remain cautious of smoke," the Forest Fire Service said. "Additionally, we ask that motorists watch for firefighters and fire vehicles that may be working on the roadsides."

Jackson Road — the only road closure from the fire — reopened Wednesday evening. The Goshen Campground, which was evacuated, will remain closed through Sunday. Three of the state park's trails — Burnt Mill, Goshen Pond and Sleeper Creek — will remain closed until officials assess their conditions.

Spring is typically New Jersey's peak wildfire season — especially in April — because of trees and underbrush still leafing out, relatively low humidity, and the frequency of windy conditions, according to state environmental officials.

Ninety-nine percent of New Jersey's wildfires are human-caused, the Forest Fire Service says. Climate change has and will continue to increase the size and frequency of wildfires, along with the length of wildfire season, according to multiple studies cited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Wharton, New Jersey's largest state forest, encompasses more than 110,000 acres of the Pinelands divided between Burlington, Camden and Atlantic counties.