CHATSWORTH, N.J. — A fast-moving wildfire involving parts of New Jersey’s pine Valens has not resulted in injuries, officials said Wednesday, but said it is expected to grow before rains later this week.
Fires in Lacey and Ocean Township in southern New Jersey have grown to over 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) and could continue to burn for several days, officials said. No one has been injured so far, and 5,000 residents have been evacuated, but are allowed to return home. A single commercial building and some vehicles were destroyed in the fire, but 12 structures remained threatened Wednesday evening.
“This is still a very active fire,” said Sean Latourette, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office. “If we keep full control of this, our hope is that the number of acres will increase and grow in places that are not rooted.”
Officials said the fire is considered to be the second-stable in the last 20 years, smaller than the 2007 flame, which burned 26 square miles (67 square kilometers).
Garden State Park, one of New Jersey’s busiest highways, reopened Wednesday morning after closing down a stretch of about seven miles (12km) in the southern part of the state.
Deputy government Tahesha Wei declared a state of emergency early on Wednesday as authorities said it included around 50% of wildfires.
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A video released by the state agency overseeing fire services showed pines and firefighters swirling white and black clouds of smoke, showing violent flames enveloping the burnt structure.
Authorities said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
Forest fires are a common occurrence in pine insects in 1.1 million acres (445,000 hectares) states and federally protected reserves for the size of the Grand Canyon, located in Philadelphia and half of the Atlantic coast to the west and the east. With its rapidly dry, sandy soil, the area is in peak forest fire season. The tree still develops its leaves and remains low in humidity, allowing the wind to kick and dry the forest floor.
It is the vast wilderness of the country’s most populous state. DEP Commissioner Latourette said the fires straddle the wilderness and the area on the edge of the residential area.
“It’s the interface where the environment meets development,” he said.
The area was exposed to severe drought until recently when early spring rain helped the region decline, but authorities warned that recent low humidity and dry stretches increased the risk of fires.
Jersey Central Power and Light Company cut power to roughly 25,000 customers on Tuesday evening at the request of Forest Fire Service and Wildfire’s Command Post. By late Wednesday afternoon, electricity had recovered.
On Tuesday, Devi Schaffer was caught in terrible traffic while agreeing to stay with 22 chickens after evacuating with two dogs, Atlantic City news agency reported.
“I wanted to take them to the car with me. Can you imagine 22 chickens in the car?” she told the newspaper.
Around her Waretown home, “like a war zone,” she says, explaining the topic of smoke, sirens and helicopters.
The fire is located near the Alpaca Farm. The farm said in a Facebook post that the property was not threatened and that all animals are safe.
The flame is the second major bushfire in the area within a week.
Bruce Shippkovsky
