South Jersey Wildfire Completely Contained, Fire Officials Say

SOUTH JERSEY — The wildfire that broke out in Wharton State Forest on Tuesday is 100 percent contained, officials said.

Nearly 98 acres of forest near Maple Branch and Bulltown roads were damaged before the wildfire was contained at about 8 a.m. Wednesday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said on its Facebook page.

Firefighters used a backfiring technique, where they set fires "along the inner edge of a fireline to consume the fuel in the path of a wildfire or change the direction of force of the fire's convection column," according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group — to contain the fire, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.

No structures were damaged, Batsto Village has reopened and the Batona Trail has reopened from Bulltown to Batsto, according to officials. No injuries were reported, according to officials.

However, the Buttonwood Campground remains closed, officials said.

"Forest Fire Service staff will remain on scene to continue improving containment lines and monitor the area to ensure public safety," said the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. "Smoke conditions may remain for several days."

The cause of the wildfire, which officials have named the Maple Branch Fire, remains under investigation.

The Maple Branch Fire was in roughly the same area as the Mullica River Fire earlier this year, a wildfire caused by an illegal campfire that damaged 13,000-plus acres, according to officials.

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