Wildfire Reaches 360 Acres On Burlington-Camden Border

EVESHAM, NJ — A wildfire burning on the border of Burlington and Camden counties has reached 360 acres but it is now 75 percent contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Friday.

There are still 104 structures considered threatened by the Bethany Run Wildfire, but evacuation orders for a dozen homes were lifted as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, forest fire service officials said.

Road closures remain in place along Kettle Run Road and Sycamore Avenue in Evesham, near the Voorhees border, as fire crews continue to construct containment lines and work to stop the fire's forward progress.

There were 12 structures evacuated by noon Thursday, but crews from throughout the region were able to protect homes and buildings and residents were able to go home. The Forest Fire Service is battling the blaze with fire engines, bulldozers, ground crews, a helicopter that can drop up to 350 gallons of water at once, and an observational aircraft.

Smoke has been visible in surrounding communities, carrying a strong odor with it.
As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sycamore Avenue remains closed. Kettle Run Road is shut down from Braddock Mill Road to Hopewell Road, and access to the Sturbridge Lakes Development is blocked off.

Residents in nearby Voorhees should stay out of the Sturbridge Woods area. No evacuations in Voorhees had been ordered Thursday.

"For your safety, only residents and emergency personnel are allowed access," the Camden County Office of Emergency Management said. "Please avoid the area to keep roads clear for responders and help ensure everyone’s safety."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Kettle Run Road and Sycamore Avenue run through heavily wooded areas, with some homes scattered along each roadway. There are some residential streets in the vicinity and more densely populated neighborhoods to the west.

A wildfire broke out near Sycamore Avenue last week, threatening 15 homes before crews contained it. Read more: Wildfire That Threatened 15 Homes In Burlington Co. Gets Contained
Dry conditions from the worsening drought have fueled wildfires throughout the state. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded to 507 incidents in October, when the state received virtually no rain.

Another wildfire was detected Thursday afternoon in Gloucester County.