Firefighters in southern New Jersey are trying to contain a forest fire burning in Berkeley Township that has thus far not threatened any structures.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has yet to give a size estimate for the blaze, which broke out around 8 p.m. Monday in an area not far from the Garden State Parkway near Exit 77.
In an update Wednesday, officials said firefighters have mostly contained the forest fire.
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The blaze in Berkeley Township was 80% contained as of midday Wednesday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.
The fire had consumed about 0.3 square miles (0.8 square kilometers) of land, according to Jeremy Webber, a supervising forest fire warden. The area, known as Fisher’s Pit, includes largely uninhabited stretches of scrub pines and sandy soil, although several neighborhoods and a school are nearby.
No buildings were threatened.
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The fire began accidentally when someone improperly tried to extinguish a campfire, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
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