June 20, 2022
Adam Monacelli/Cherry Hill Courier-Post via Imagn Content Services
A wildfire at Wharton State Forest has burned at least more than 2,000 acres of pinelands in New Jersey's largest state park. As of Sunday night, the fire was only 20% the N.J. Forest Fire Service says. The file image above shows a sign in the park for Batsto Historic Site in Hammonton.
A massive wildfire at Wharton State Forest in South Jersey has impacted at least 7,200 acres of land across Washington Township, Shamong, Hammonton and Mullica and is only 45% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said late Sunday night.
Officials had assured residents on Sunday that there have been no reported injuries, and surrounding areas have been evacuated. Batsto Village and all nearby hiking and biking trails are closed to visitors.
The flames ignited Sunday in a remote section of the forest along the Mullica River. The Forest Fire Service began setting controlled fires – a process known as backfiring – in an effort to contain the blaze shortly after noon Sunday. Officials closed portions of Route 206 and Route 542 in order to keep the area fully evacuated.
Wharton State Forest is New Jersey's largest state park, occupying 122,880 acres of pine forest, lakes and rivers in the Pinelands National Reserve in Burlington and Atlantic counties. An average of 1,500 acres of state forest land is destroyed by spontaneous fire each year, the Forest Fire Service told NJ.com.
Officials say that wildfires are considered "major" when they impacted or consume more than 100 acres of land. Firefighters have not updated how much of the fire is contained since since late last night, but smoke was still prominent in the areas surrounding the state park.
Pinelands Adventures has halted operations until further notice, and Paradise Lakes Campgrounds has been evacuated. Officials reminded residents not to fly drones over the fire area, as it interferes with the firefighting operations.
Just after midnight on Monday, the National Weather Service noted that the smoke from the Wharton State Forest fire was showing up on its radar. Visibility at Atlantic City International Airport was below 2 miles at 12:37 a.m., and the NWS urged people traveling overnight to be cautious of obstructed views.
WILDFIRE UPDATE: Wharton State Forest – Mullica River Fire@njdepforestfire continues to fight a wildfire fueled by dry and breezy conditions in Wharton State Forest - Washington, Shamong, Hammonton & Mullica Townships- which has reached 2,100 acres in size and is 20% contained. pic.twitter.com/6W1iAZNnyZ
— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) June 20, 2022
Fire burns at Wharton State Forest in South Jersey. Officials say it reached 2,100 acres and is now 20% contained. This was from earlier this morning close to Batsto Village. @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/uTHX3ddwS6
— Tim Jimenez (@TimJRadio) June 20, 2022
Forest fire still going strong sadly in the Wharton State Forest. AC airport and Egg Harbor City with limited visibility due to 💨 #NJwx https://t.co/1Grj4ys5nN pic.twitter.com/60BJiTzKYz
— 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕔 𝕁𝕣. ❄️⛈ (@WxmanFranz) June 20, 2022
Washington Twp Burlington Co: New Jersey Forest Fire Service with Fire Crews from Burlington and Atlantic Counties are battling a wildfire in a remote section of Wharton State Forest. BeAlert pic.twitter.com/66eOjOD4p1
— First Responder 🚨 🚨 (@911__ICE) June 19, 2022
New Start: New Jersey…
— TheHotshotWakeUp (@HotshotWake) June 20, 2022
The Mullica River Fire.
Varied reports saying 600+ and 2,000+ acres. The fire is 10% contained. Numerous local resources are responding. #NewJersey #wildfire #jersey #fire #mullicariverFire pic.twitter.com/uFY1HQuNdt
