Crews Fight 10-Acre Woods Fire Overnight In Teaneck: Officials

TEANECK, NJ — Approximately 10 acres of land were involved in a large brush fire overnight that blew smoke across the area, according to authorities.

Mutual aid agencies from 15 local municipalities, and from the county and state, responded just after 7 p.m. Tuesday to assist in extinguishing the five-alarm blaze along the Teaneck Creek Conservancy, authorities said.

The fire — the cause of which is still unknown — quickly spread, due to dry windy conditions, in the undeveloped land area south of Degraw Avenue between Route 95 and Teaneck Road, and remained active for several hours, township manager Dean Kazinci said.

One firefighter was taken to a local hospital with chest pains, he added. No evacuation orders were issued, though traffic onto Route 95 South and Route 80 East was diverted.

At about 2 a.m. Wednesday, the fire was extinguished in its entirety, and the area was deemed safe and reopened to the public, officials said.

"Teaneck Fire will continue to monitor the Teaneck Creek," an alert from local police said. "(New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) Forest Fire Service will be on scene overnight conducting controlled burns in the wooded area."

Hoses remain in place Wednesday in the event of a flare up, Kazinci said.

"Weather conditions remain favorable for brush fires," he said, "and the fire department will continue to conduct a watch of the area."

A social media post from Teaneck Creek around midnight assured the park system "did not catch on fire" and that the blaze occurred just south.

"We are fortunate and grateful we were not affected," the park said. "But please keep in mind fires are a more common event due to climate change."

"Northern New Jersey continues to have prime brush fire conditions. Please be mindful and aware."