Firefighters on Sunday were still battling a northern New Jersey forest fire about 40 miles west of New York City that began burning the day before, state officials said.As of Sunday, the blaze burned across 77 acres of woodlands in the Rockaway Township area of Morris County, forcing firefighters to shut down Jacobs Road, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.The fire - named the Microwave Wildfire - was 30% contained as of...
Firefighters on Sunday were still battling a northern New Jersey forest fire about 40 miles west of New York City that began burning the day before, state officials said.
As of Sunday, the blaze burned across 77 acres of woodlands in the Rockaway Township area of Morris County, forcing firefighters to shut down Jacobs Road, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.
The fire - named the Microwave Wildfire - was 30% contained as of Sunday morning, the service said. Meanwhile, 30 structures near the blaze were considered endangered, but evacuation orders were not ordered as of Sunday morning.
At 7 p.m. Sunday, the fire’s size was still 77 acres and 70% contained with 13 structures threatened, the fire service said.
A cause remained under investigation.
The fire is at least the second reported by the Forest Fire Service while New Jersey experiences abnormal dryness, making the state’s forestry vulnerable to embers. Last week, a fire in Burlington County burned across 30 acres of woods in Medford Township.
State firefighters said Sunday they deployed both hand crews and engines to the Rockaway scene. The suppression effort Saturday was aided by a helicopter that dropped 15 loads of water onto the blaze, firefighters said.
Morris County fire companies on Sunday were fulfilling a structure protection plan.
No injuries have been reported. Firefighters did not say when Jacobs Road could reopen.
The road is surrounded by woods that include campgrounds Farny State Park, an over 500-acre, state-protected forest. The Boys Scouts of America’s Camp Winnebego is also in the area.
All of Garden State on Sunday remained at a severe risk for wildfires while the state continues a rainless stretch. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has ordered restrictions on both campfires and agricultural burning in light of the drought.
Last week, more than 87% of New Jersey was classified as “abnormally dry,” with 26% of those areas having moderate drought conditions and 4% having severe drought conditions.
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Eric Conklin may be reached at [email protected].