Major N.J. wildfires mostly contained, but don’t expect smoky conditions to go away

While firefighters have been able to contain the numerous large wildfires burning across the state, the smoky conditions residents have been experiencing as a result were expected to persist for several days, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
The conditions are due to the extremely dry conditions which have allowed the fires to burn down into the duff layer of soil, the service said.
Duff is a layer of partly decayed organic material that accumulates on forest floors.
The lack of rain, coupled with warm temperatures and gusty winds, has caused three counties — Atlantic County and most of Burlington and Ocean — to experience a rare “extreme” drought. Most other counties in a severe drought.
The service said its crews would be still be on site at as many as nine wildfires and that it would be improving containment lines and mopping up hotspots in those areas.
Fire officials also provided updates on the three most recent blazes they have been battling over the last few days.
The 350-acre ‘Shotgun’ fire, located in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area in the area of Stump Tavern Road in Jackson Jackson Township, was 90% contained as of 7 p.m. on Friday, authorities said.
Stump Tavern Road was closed from Route 571 to Route 528 in town. It will be reevaluated daily by local police and the forest fire service to determine when it will be reopened.
The wildfire was originally reported at 12:17 p.m. on Wednesday. Initially, 25 structures were threatened by the blaze, which caused the evacuation of 15 homes, investigators said. Evacuation orders were lifted at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
The Pheasant Run Wildfire, which has burned through 133 acres of the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area in Gloucester County, was 75% contained as of 7 p.m.
The fire was originally spotted by the Blue Anchor Fire Tower at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday. It never threatened any homes in the area and only temporarily forced the closure of one local road which runs through the forest, the service said.
Finally, the 360-acre Bethany Run Wildfire, which is located in the towns of Evesham and Voorhees in Burlington and Camden counties, respectively, was 90% contained on Friday.
The blaze was originally spotted by the Medford Fire Tower at 9:03 a.m. on Thursday. The inferno initially threatened 104 structures and forced the evacuation of 12 homes, authorities said. Evacuation orders were lifted at 6:30 p.m. the same day.
All local roads that were once closed because of the fire had reopened by Friday.
The causes of all three fires had still not been determined on Friday night.
Investigators encouraged residents near these fires with respiratory conditions to keep their windows closed and to limit outdoor activity as the smoky conditions continued.
The Forest Fire Service responded to 507 fire incidents in October, it said this week.
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at [email protected].