County Line wildfire contained in Wharton State Forest

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service successfully contained a 510-acre wildfire that blazed through parts of Waterford Township in Camden County and Shamong Township in Burlington County.

The fire ignited sometime Tuesday night in Waterford Township in Camden County and spread into Shamong Township in neighboring Burlington County. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service says it burned 510 acres before it was declared fully contained as of 8 a.m. on April 25, 2024.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Forest Fire Service announced the achievement of 100% containment on social media, providing updates and precautions to ensure public safety.

Despite the substantial scale of the fire, no structures were threatened, and there were no reported injuries.

Efforts to monitor and address any lingering hotspots or potential flare-ups will continue, with Forest Fire Service personnel remaining on-site until significant precipitation occurs.

The public had been advised to expect visible smoke in the area as mop-up operations progress. Motorists were urged to exercise caution, particularly along Jackson Road, where fire vehicles and personnel may still be active.

In response to the wildfire, certain areas within Wharton State Forest have been temporarily closed for safety assessments. The Goshen Campground will remain closed through the weekend, and trails including the Burnt Mill Trail, Goshen Pond Trail, and Sleeper Creek Trail will remain inaccessible until conditions are deemed safe by state authorities.

Despite the disruption caused by the fire and subsequent closures, Jackson Road has been reopened to traffic as of 6 p.m. on the evening of April 24.

The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation, and officials have not provided further updates beyond the containment status and safety measures.

However, the rapid containment and minimal impact on structures and individuals highlight the effectiveness of the response efforts by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service in safeguarding both natural resources and public safety during wildfire events.

The New Jersey blaze was one of ten new large fires reported in the week ending April 26, 2024. Wildland firefighters and support personnel contained nine large fires during the week, with more expected due in part to the impact of global warming.

Currently, four large uncontained wildfires on the North American continent are burning in Virginia, Arizona, and Colorado. There have been 11,523 wildfire incidents so far this year, and 1,802,756 acres have burned in them.