PUMPTON LAKES, NJ – Crews continued to battle several wildfires in northern New Jersey on Saturday.
This week, fires broke out across the state the drought affecting the Tri-state area continues.
“The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded to more than 400 fires overall over the past month and approximately 40 fires between yesterday and today,” Bill Donnelly, chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said Saturday.
The chief said it is likely the fires will continue to crop up until some rain falls in the region.
“It’s up to Mother Nature. If she brings the rain, we’ll take a break, but until we see that, I don’t see any break in sight,” he said.
A An air quality warning has been issued for northern New Jerseyalong with New York City and the Hudson Valley, until noon Monday due to the smoke.
Fire in West Milford
The most recently reported fire is the Jennings Creek wildfire near Greenwood Lake Turnpike and East Shore Road in West Milford. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported the incident Saturday around 2:15 p.m.
“That’s a fire that started yesterday. Our fire tower noticed it and it was spotted in New York. Yesterday afternoon the fire entered New York. The winds changed overnight and started pushing the fire back into New Jersey ,” said Donnelly. .
Fire officials said it has spread to 1,800 acres, including part of New York’s Orange County, and is completely out of control. Donnelly says it’s the largest wildfire in the state so far this year.
A total of ten buildings are threatened by the fire, including two homes, but no evacuations have taken place at this time, the fire brigade said.
East Shore Road and Beach Road are both closed, as are all trails at Long Pond Ironworks State Park and Tranquility Ridge.
Pompton Lakes fire
The Cannonball 3 wildfire near Cannonball Road in Pompton Lakes was first reported Saturday morning.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported just before 3:30 p.m. that the fire had spread to 164 acres and was 50% contained. The agency says the flames are threatening 55 buildings, but none have been evacuated at this time.
“Everything seems to be in good shape, realistically,” Donnelly said of the Pompton Lakes fire.
Englewood Cliffs Fire
A wildfire burns along the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Englewood Cliffs, which started from Thursday to Fridayis now 40% contained and has spread over 39 hectares, the fire department said Saturday morning.
No structures are currently threatened, but Henry Hudson Drive remains closed, according to fire officials.
The fire brigade has not yet determined the cause of these three fires.
Wildfires in New Jersey
The persistently dry, windy conditions have helped fuel a number of wildfires in New Jersey in recent days, including a blaze in Jackson Township that started Wednesday.
Fire officials say the wildfires eventually spread to 350 acres, but crews were able to achieve a containment of 90% on Friday evening.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced Saturday that the cause of the fire was determined to be magnesium shards from a shotgun that ignited flammable substances on the edge of a shooting range. A Brick Township man has been arrested and charged with arson and firearms violations in connection with the Jackson Township wildfire.
