By Earl Hopkins, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 6, 2024, 12:25 p.m.
The wildfire had scorched another 2,800 since it broke out on Friday
A New Jersey wildfire that broke out Friday morning in the Pinelands, resulting in the closure of a popular campground, had spread to 4,000 acres by Saturday, authorities said.
The spread to 2,800 additional acres since Friday night occurred despite overnight crews working to contain the fire, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. Firefighters have made progress, reporting 60% containment Saturday.
The fire, located in Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, started at a heavily used Pinelands recreation area. As previously reported by The Inquirer, the blaze grew to 1,200 acres Friday, impacting the area around Apple Pie Hill and Batona Campground.
A hunting club and home that were initially threatened on Friday were no longer considered in harm’s way, the fire service said Saturday.
The Batona Campground in Tabernacle Township will remain closed due to the fire, named the Tea Time Hill Wildfire after a feature on the hiking route from the Carranza Memorial in Tabernacle to Apple Pie Hill, the fire service said. Officials also closed part of the 53-mile-long Batona Trail between Route 532 and Carranza Road, as well as the Tulpehocken Trail from Apple Pie Hill to Hawkins Bridge.
Previous news reports:
Wild fire continues to spread in South Jersey Pinelands
Pinelands wild fire continues to spread in Burlington County, NJ
If you liked this post, you’ll love our daily environmental newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed daily with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Please do not take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.
