Smoke From 158-Acre South Jersey Forest Fire May Linger For Days, Officials Say

GLOUCESTER COUNTY — A 158-acre forest fire burned through a South Jersey hunting area and some private property on Monday night and into Tuesday, state forest fire officials said.

Dubbed the Box Turtle Fire, the blaze was first reported at around 9:30 p.m. Monday in the White Oaks Wildlife Management Area in Franklin and Monroe townships, according to a tweet from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

The fire was 100 percent contained as of 2 p.m. Tuesday., per the NJ Forest Fire Service. Smoky conditions may persist in the area for several days, fire officials added.

"Those traveling in the area of the fire are reminded to use caution while traveling," said the state forest fire service in their latest update.

No injuries were reported. Forest fire officials said one structure was threatened "for a short time on Monday evening."

The White Oaks Wildlife Management Area spans nearly 3,000 acres between Main Road and South Black Horse Pike.

The current statewide fire danger is “moderate” for New Jersey counties south of Mercer and Middlesex, according to a fire danger map from the state Department of Environmental Protection. 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of New Jersey forests on an average year, according to the DEP. Related—NJ's Peak Wildfire Season May Be More Dangerous This Year: Here's Why