NJ Forest Fire Service: 82-acre wildfire in Jackson Twp. now 100% contained
The blaze broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the area of East Commodore Boulevard and Cedar Swamp Road in Jackson Township.
JACKSON TWP., New Jersey -- The New Jersey Forest Fire Service announced on Wednesday that a wildfire in Ocean County has been 100% contained.
The 82-acre blaze broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the area of East Commodore Boulevard and Cedar Swamp Road in Jackson Township.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Forest Fire Service said the wildfire was completely contained.
Officials say 30 structures were threatened during this incident, but there were no mandatory evacuations in place.
Forest Fire Service staff say they will remain on the scene and continue to monitor control lines until "significant precipitation occurs to ensure public safety."
Officials say the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
All roads have reopened around the area.
This is a breaking news update. The story below is from a previous Action News report.
Chopper 6 was overhead Tuesday as smoke billowed from a wooded area of the township.
No injuries have been reported.
Roughly 75 firefighters responded to battle the terrain in Jackson Township, using bulldozers to dig trenches around the fire, hoping to contain it.
It's been a busy season for fire crews in New Jersey.
"We've had nine major wildfires this season. Major wildfires are fires we consider to be 100 acres or larger. In a typical year, a busy year, we would normally see four or five," said Chief Greg McLaughlin with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
McLaughlin says they are rotating crews from around the state to help, but it's still taking a toll.
"We're definitely showing fatigue. People are tired. People are weary," he said.
Meanwhile, an air quality alert is in effect for several counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey due to wildfires burning in Canada.
According to our 6abc Data Journalism team, Tuesday's air quality index reached 110, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. That number was up significantly from Monday's recorded 40 AQI.
SEE ALSO: Canada wildfires lead to air quality alerts for Pa., NJ and Del.
There are also Stage 2 and Stage 3 fire restrictions in place statewide until further notice due to the dry conditions in New Jersey.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS
NORTHERN NJ - Stage 3 Fire Restrictions
COUNTIES: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, Hopewell Township in Mercer County, Union, Hunterdon, Middlesex (north of Raritan River)
CENTRAL NJ - Stage 3 Fire Restrictions
COUNTIES: Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex (south of the Raritan River), Mercer County except Hopewell Township
SOUTHERN NJ - Stage 2 Fire Restrictions
COUNTIES: Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem
Stage 3 Fire Restrictions:
-All fires in wooded areas are prohibited unless contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas, gas, or electricity.
-No charcoal fires are allowed.
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions:
-All fires in wooded areas will be prohibited unless in an elevated prepared fireplace, elevated charcoal grill or stove using electricity or a liquid or gas fuel.
-An elevated prepared fireplace must meet the following criteria: constructed of steel, stone, brick or concrete, elevated at least one foot above the ground and surrounded by a mineral soil radius no less than ten feet.
