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The Craigmeur Lookout near Notch Road in Rockaway Township had been 30% contained as of 8 p.m. Friday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. Residents were asked to avoid the area, the NJFFS said.
The blaze threatened 13 structures and eight structures on Green Pond Road were evacuated.
A homeowner tells Daily Voice that residents heard what sounded like gunshots and then saw fire in the woods. Then, they realized that it must've been fireworks that sparked the flames.
Several farms are located up in the area, and owners say this is the second time they've had to evacuate their animals since the Microwave Wildfire last month.
Last night, one homeowner evacuated a dozen of their horses by trailer. They were all out by midnight, they said.
The NJFFS has not yet released a cause of this fire.
No one has been evacuated and no structures are under threat, the NJFFS said.
The US National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Sussex, Warren, Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex and Mercer counties through 7 p.m.
A Red Flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, the NJFFS said.
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