660-Acre Fire At Joint Base Contained: Official

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ — A fire that has burned 660 acres at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has been contained, base public affairs officials said Thursday.

There are still "small pockets" of fire that are being extinguished, the spokesman said, but as of 10 a.m. the fire was contained. He said the base initially said the fire encompassed 1,200 acres but "we were able to pinpoint it" and revised the number of acres down to 660.

About 100 firefighters and first responders have been battling the blaze that started about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at one of the training ranges on the base near Browns Mills, base officials said.

There were no evacuations or structural damage, but the smell of the smoke spread to neighboring towns. There is no threat to the installation or community at this time.

The fire forced road closures, including Pemberton Browns Mills Road, Juliustown Road and Pointville Road. Officials said they remain closed Thursday and will remain closed "through the foreseeable future."

Personnel from the base fire services, the New Jersey State Forest Service and its aerial support, and Burlington County Strike Team have been fighting the fire.

Due to partial road closures, JB MDL employees who use the Browns Mills Gate or Pemberton Gate are encouraged to use an alternate gate for base access tomorrow to allow for crews to keep working. The gates will remain open.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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