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Firefighters late Monday were “making significant progress” to contain a growing wildfire in Wharton State Forest that swelled in size on the border of Camden and Burlington Counties.

The blaze, dubbed the Dragway Wildfire by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, grew to encompass 1,500 acres of woodland near the shuttered Atco Dragway in Waterford Township. It was spotted near Jackson Road on Sunday, and as of Monday night, 75% of the fire was contained.

Crews built containment lines Monday to keep the fire from spreading farther, officials said. Jackson Road in Waterford has closed from Atsion Road to Tremont Avenue.

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Officials have stressed the fire poses no threat to nearby structures. No injures have been reported, and there have been no evacuations. Assistant State Fire Warden Bill Donnelly said because the fire started in a remote area of the woods, crews are expected to be on the scene for days.

“Our apparatus could not make access to the fire,” Donnelly told reporters late Monday morning. “We made access to the fire on foot, but because we can’t get any bulldozers or any fire apparatus to the fire, we have to bring it out to a safe place to contain it.”

Wharton State Forest spans more than 110,000 acres across Atlantic, Burlington, and Camden Counties. It’s the largest single tract of land within New Jersey’s state park system.

This is the 13th wildfire New Jersey has experienced this season, and the fire service says blazes that exceed 100 acres are considered “major wildfires.” Last year, a wildfire in Wharton State Forest swelled into New Jersey’s largest blaze in 15 years, burning about 15,000 acres before it was fully contained.

The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation.

Here are more photos of the fire:

WATERFORD - The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has reported "significant progress" in bringing a Wharton State Forest wildfire under control, even as the blaze grew to 1,500 acres and spread from Waterford to Medford and Shamong.

As of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the blaze was 85 percent contained, the fire service said.

But the agency added, "An observational flight this morning indicated that there are internal pockets of unburned fuel that will continue to burn today."

It said no buildings were threatened by the fire, which had been 75 percent contained at 9:30 p.m. Monday.

The fire's containment area includes forested land in Medford and Shamong and some along Jackson Road in Waterford, where flames broke out Sunday night near the former Atco Dragway.

Jackson Road was closed shortly from Atsion Road to Tremont Avenue before noon Monday and will remain closed until further notice, the fire service said.

No other road closings were expected.

Camden County officials urged motorists to find alternate routes around the fire.

The county's department of public safety was ready "to support the state with any needs they have while they fight this wildfire in Waterford,” County Commissioner Jonathan Young, the agency's liaison, said Monday.

“Nevertheless, and maybe more importantly, we need drivers to stay off Jackson Road in that area, so the firefighters can do their work and (to benefit) the health and welfare anyone entering the area by car.”

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When initially spotted early Sunday night, the fire was estimated at 100 acres along Jackson Road.

By 10 a.m. Monday it had spread to another 400 acres. A few hours later, it had tripled in size.

The Fire Service said crews used "a backfiring operation (Monday) to burn fuel ahead of the main body of fire throughout the day."

The agency said the fire was reported around 5:30 p.m. by its Medford firetower, then was triangulated by the Apple Pie Hill tower in Tabernacle.

Atco Dragway, also on Jackson Road, closed abruptly in mid-July. It announced the shutdown in a Facebook post that gave no reason for the track's demise after 63 years.

Visit https://twitter.com/njdepforestfire for other information.

This story will be updated.

This story originally appeared on 6abc.

The battle to contain a wildfire in New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest continued Monday.

The flames have grown to 1,500 acres in size and are 75% contained as of the latest update.

Officials say the fire began in the area of Jackson Road near the shuttered Atco Dragway in Waterford Township, giving this fire its name – the ‘Dragway Wildfire.’ It has since spread to both Camden and Burlington counties.

It was first reported just after 2:45 p.m. Sunday.

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Assistant State Fire Warden Bill Donnelly told Action News that residents in the area do not need to be concerned by the flames.

Donnelly also said no injuries were reported and there were no evacuations.

Roughly 50 firefighters and several engines are expected to stay at the scene to keep the blaze under control.

“We’ll be here for a few days. Looking at the extent of the fire and the weather forecast, there’s very little precipitation in the near future,” said Jay Wyatt, section forest fire warden.

Crews are now utilizing a backfire operation, which means they will intentionally set fire along the inner edge of the fire line in an effort to change the direction of the blaze.

“This fire started in a very, very remote area. Our apparatus could not make access to the fire. We made access to the fire on foot, but because we can’t get any bulldozers or any fire apparatus to the fire, we have to bring it out to a safe place to contain it,” Wyatt said.

A portion of Jackson Road – from Atsion Road to Tremont Avenue – is closed while crews work to keep the flames under control.

Officials said there are a few things residents can expect as the fire continues to burn.

“I’m sure that with the wind shift smoke is going to turn and blow out of the north, which is going to impact more people than it is impacting now,” Wyatt said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This is the thirteenth wildfire to break out in New Jersey this season, officials say.

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SOUTH JERSEY — The Dragway Wildfire doubled in size from the morning, reaching 1,200 acres as of 4 p.m. Monday. But 40 percent of the fire has been contained, according to state officials.

Crews have been "making progress" since the fire was first reported early Sunday evening, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. The blaze has been burning around Jackson Road and the shuttered Atco Dragway in Waterford Township, but the containment area expanded into Medford and Shamong in Burlington County.

Jackson Road will remain closed until further notice between Tremont Avenue and Atison Road in Waterford. Camden County officials urged drivers to find alternate routes.

"At this time, the department of public safety are standing at the ready to support the state with any needs they have while they fight this wildfire in Waterford," County Commissioner Jonathan Young said late Monday afternoon.

The fire reached 200 acres Sunday night and grew to 600 acres as of 10 a.m. Monday, with 10 percent contained at that time in the Wharton State Forest. The containment area expanded into parts of Medford and Shamong in Burlington County.

Find out what's happening in Cherry Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Dragway Fire — near the former Atco Dragway/Jackson Road in Waterford Township — was first reported around 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Fire officials around the Garden State have warned residents of the increased potential for forest fires in 2023, as the lack of snow in South Jersey this winter has prevented pine needles and leaves from compacting. The result: this "ground fuel" may rapidly dry out on breezy or windy days that are at high risk for wildfire.

While 99 percent of wildfires in the state are attributed to human carelessness, accidents or arson, the riskier peak wildfire season may actually be extended due to changing climate patterns, state officials said.

“The continuing impacts of climate change mean our state is experiencing more severe weather conditions, storms, wind and drought that can result in a longer wildfire season, which is why it is more important than ever that the public exercise caution and take steps to help protect their homes and property,” New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette previously said in a statement. “Preventing wildfires also helps avoid catastrophic releases of carbon that contribute to and exacerbate climate change.”

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service recommends the following to reduce the risk of wildfires:

SOUTH JERSEY — Crews made significant progress on a South Jersey wildfire, containing 95 percent of the 1,700-acre blaze as of Tuesday evening, officials said.

The Dragway Wildfire was discovered Sunday afternoon, burning around Jackson Road in Wharton State Forest and near the shuttered Atco Dragway in Waterford Township, Camden County. The containment areas expanded into Burlington County's Medford and Shamong.

With 95 percent of the fire contained as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, there were no reported injuries and no structures threatened, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

Officials will continue to investigate the cause of the fire. The Forest Fire Service doesn't expect to release any further updates on the incident.

Jackson Road will remain closed until further notice because of fire-weakened trees and smoke impacts. The roadway crosses through Wharton State Forest. The Atco Dragway — a drag-racing complex on Jackson Road that closed suddenly last month — is right by the 110,000-acre forest.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Forest Fire Service staff will remain on-scene to continue monitoring control lines while addressing areas of concern until significant precipitation occurs.

Wildfires Around The State

Fire officials around the Garden State have warned residents of the increased potential for forest fires in 2023, as the lack of snow in South Jersey this winter has prevented pine needles and leaves from compacting. The result: this "ground fuel" may rapidly dry out on breezy or windy days that are at high risk for wildfire.

While 99 percent of wildfires in the state are attributed to human carelessness, accidents or arson, the riskier peak wildfire season may actually be extended due to changing climate patterns, state officials said.

“The continuing impacts of climate change mean our state is experiencing more severe weather conditions, storms, wind and drought that can result in a longer wildfire season, which is why it is more important than ever that the public exercise caution and take steps to help protect their homes and property,” New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette previously said in a statement. “Preventing wildfires also helps avoid catastrophic releases of carbon that contribute to and exacerbate climate change.”

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service recommends the following to reduce the risk of wildfires: