A wildfire in New Jersey that has burned nearly 4,000 acres is 75% contained, and roads that had previously been closed in the area will be reopened, the New Jersey Forest Service tweeted Wednesday night. The fire started in Manchester Township Tuesday night and has burned 3,859 acres, officials said. Although the fire is 75% contained, Forest Service personnel will continue to work in several locations and have urged residents to “remain vigilant while driving in smoky conditions” because firefighters may be working on the side of the road.
The fire remains under investigation, the Forest Service added. About 170 buildings in the Manchester Township area were evacuated Tuesday night, but all residents have been allowed to return to their homes. According to Manchester Police Chief Robert Dolan at a press conference Wednesday, no structures have been reported damaged or injured, but firefighters have faced “extreme fire behavior.”
The fire has burned more than half the average number of acres burned in a year in New Jersey, according to statistics from the New Jersey Forest Service. The fire has burned mostly federal, state, and private property in Manchester Township but has spread to the neighboring town of Lakehurst.
Warm weather is worsening fire conditions in the state, with summer temperatures expected to last through Friday. The record temperatures will only make fire conditions worse through the week as temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit in New Jersey and other parts of the Northeast along the I-95 corridor. Nighttime temperatures will also remain high, creating challenging conditions for firefighters. Winds will also continue to be a factor, with sustained winds expected around 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
April is considered peak wildfire season in New Jersey. The state has seen other large fires in recent years, including one last year that scorched more than 13,000 acres. The fire in 2022 was approximately 50 miles from where the current fire is burning.