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The fire was first spotted at the Cedar Bridge fire tower at 4:44 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in an update. The roughly 189-acre wildfire was burning near Fishers Pit, a sand and gravel pit in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township.
Conditions have improved after "erratic fire behavior" caused problems for the first firefighters at the scene.
"Fire crews continue to secure and reinforce containment lines by mopping up hot spots alongside the fire’s perimeter," NJFFS said. "The fire’s perimeter was remapped early this afternoon to show a more accurate depiction [of the] fire's perimeter and acres consumed."
NJFFS also said the fire was 50 percent contained as of 1:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10. No buildings were threatened by the fire and no roads were closed.
Heavy smoke around Northern Boulevard and Hickory Lane in the Barnegat Pines neighborhood of Berkeley had "gradually decreased" by the morning. People posted on social media that they noticed smoke and fire smells from several towns away from the scene.
The Ocean County Sheriff's Office was one of many agencies responding to the scene that was also near Beachwood. Aerial photos posted by the sheriff's office showed large stacks of smoke in the air above the woods.
NJFFS also said it expected to provide another update by 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Stay with Daily Voice for updates on this developing story.
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