A New Jersey wildfire ripped through 3,800 acres in the state’s pine forests, raining down embers and confronting firefighters with 200-foot-tall flames, but leaving no injuries or property intact, authorities said Wednesday.
The fire in Manchester, near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, forced the evacuation of dozens of homes Tuesday night, and police went door-to-door asking people to went to a temporary shelter at a nearby high school.
The fire started Tuesday afternoon amid gusty winds, warm temperatures, low humidity and dry fuel, according to Trevor Raynor, a ranger with the state forest fire service.It’s 50% contained as of Wednesday morning, but authorities said they did not expect its perimeter to grow any further.
“This fire exhibited extreme fire behavior,” said John Cecil, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection. “I don’t want to be dramatic, but this was a serious situation that these guys and girls managed to keep in one place and protect lives and property from it.”
Firefighters initially tried to prevent the fire, named Jimmy’s Waterhole for a water hole where the fire was particularly hot, from crossing Route 539, but were unable to stop the flames, Raynor said. Eventuallya perimeter with pavement, roads and other barriers was built, he added.About 75 firefighters, two helicopters, bulldozers and 15 fire trucks participated.
Manchester and the Department of Defense military installation are nestled in the state’s pine forests, a million-acre preserve roughly halfway between Philadelphia to the west and the Atlantic coast to the east.
The cause of the fire was not disclosed. but authorities said they are investigating.
Dry, warm weather is forecast for the next few days, with the next chance of rain not expected until the weekend. The National Weather Service said there is an elevated risk of wildfire spread due to low humidity, gusty winds and dry fuel.
