New Jersey Pinelands forest fire is mostly contained, official says

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.

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.