Burlington Wildfire Has Already Consumed More Than 843 Acres

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP — A forest fire just north of Lake Oswego in Burlington County is now 90 percent contained, thanks to the efforts of firefighters who worked all night, according to a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson.

"Our crews did a fantastic job," said DEP spokesperson Caryn Shinske.

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 are at the scene, Shinske said.

The cause 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, she said.

The National Weather Service is calling for sunny skies with relative humidity around 23 percent.

Photo: Courtesy of New Jersey State Forest Fire Service