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'Historic Low': NJ Reservoir Drops Below Half Capacity As Wildfires Burn Across State 'Historic Low': NJ Reservoir Drops Below Half Capacity As Wildfires Burn Across State
'Historic Low': NJ Reservoir Drops Below Half Capacity As Wildfires Burn Across State The Manasquan Reservoir, a crucial water source in Monmouth County, has dropped to historically low levels as New Jersey experiences wildfires and drastic drought conditions. The reservoir's water elevation was recorded at 91.27 feet above sea level on the morning of Monday, Nov. 18, according to Marc Brooks, executive director of the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA). That measurement at the Howell Township reservoir was 11.73 feet below its full pool level. The reservoir was holding 2.3 billion gallons of water, which is just 49.35 percent of its 4.67-bill…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Wildfire Near NJ Golf Course Half-Contained After Scorching 35 Acres UPDATE: Wildfire Near NJ Golf Course Half-Contained After Scorching 35 Acres
Update: Wildfire Near NJ Golf Course Half-Contained After Scorching 35 Acres Firefighters have contained about half of a wildfire in Lakewood, where flames have scorched dozens of acres, officials said. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the 35-acre wildfire was about 50 percent contained as of around 7:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The fire was burning near Pine Park and the Lakewood Country Club. Clearstream Road remained closed between Brewers Bridge and Hope Chapel Road as crews continued their work. To combat the flames, crews have deployed fire engines, bulldozers, a helicopter, and ground teams to the site. Six buildings on Seminole Drive were …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Second NJ Wildfire In Hours: Firefighters Battle Hainesport Blaze Second NJ Wildfire In Hours: Firefighters Battle Hainesport Blaze
Second NJ Wildfire In Hours: Firefighters Battle Hainesport Blaze Firefighters are gaining ground on the Big Rusty Wildfire, which has burned 40 acres in Hainesport, Burlington County, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Monday evening, Nov. 18. The Hainesport fire is the second to have erupted Monday, the first being the Country Club Wildfire in Lakewood (click here for details on that forest fire). Crews had achieved 20% containment of the fire, which was burning near Bancroft Lane, Cove Court, and Wharton Place. Earlier concerns about 20 threatened structures have been alleviated, with no evacuations reported and no structures currently at risk. R…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Teen Accused Of Arson In Wildfire That Threatened 15 South Jersey Homes, Police Say Teen Accused Of Arson In Wildfire That Threatened 15 South Jersey Homes, Police Say
Teen Accused Of Arson In Wildfire That Threatened 15 South Jersey Homes, Police Say A Marlton boy was accused of starting a wildfire that threatened more than a dozen homes in Burlington County, authorities said. The 14-year-old was charged with second-degree aggravated arson and causing or risking widespread injury or damage, the Evesham Township Police Department said in a news release on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Officers responded to the forest fire off Sycamore Drive near the border with Berlin Township at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30. It took firefighters several days to extinguish the roughly 52-acre wildfire. The blaze threatened 15 homes…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
'Apocalyptic:' Smoke From NJ Wildfire Triggers 911 Calls, Sets Off Carbon Monoxide Alarms 'Apocalyptic:' Smoke From NJ Wildfire Triggers 911 Calls, Sets Off Carbon Monoxide Alarms
'Apocalyptic:' Smoke From NJ Wildfire Triggers 911 Calls, Sets Off Carbon Monoxide Alarms Residents across Gloucester County woke up to thick smoke from the 133-acre Pheasant Run wildfire in the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area last week, causing widespread smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to sound off early Friday morning, Nov. 8. The Gloucester County Office of Emergency Management warned that changing wind directions could further affect surrounding communities, including Glassboro, Washington Township, and Williamstown, where local fire departments have been fielding an “unprecedented” number of emergency calls. A TikTok video that shows smoke covering the area is title…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Illegal Shotgun Round Sparked 350-Acre Jackson Wildfire, Brick Man Charged: Officials Illegal Shotgun Round Sparked 350-Acre Jackson Wildfire, Brick Man Charged: Officials
Illegal Shotgun Round Sparked 350-Acre Jackson Wildfire, Brick Man Charged: Officials A massive wildfire that scorched 350 acres in Jackson Township was ignited by an illegal shotgun round that authorities said was fired by a 37-year-old Brick Township man. Authorities charged Richard Shashaty, 37, with arson after an investigation revealed that magnesium shards from a prohibited Dragon’s Breath 12-gauge shotgun round sparked the blaze on Nov. 6, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. The fire, known as the Shotgun Wildfire, erupted shortly after noon on November 6 near the Central Jersey Rifle Range on Stump Tavern Road. Investigators determined that the incendi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Five Wildfires Rage Across NJ: Here's The Latest Update On Each One Five Wildfires Rage Across NJ: Here's The Latest Update On Each One
Five Wildfires Rage Across NJ: Here's The Latest Update On Each One New Jersey is actively managing five wildfires across multiple counties, sending smoke into surrounding towns and worsening the air quality. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) continues efforts to contain the flames under a Red Flag Warning issued through Saturday, Nov. 9, by the U.S. National Weather Service.  HIGH Fire Danger Today! A Red Flag Warning is in effect today into this evening as very dry conditions and gusty winds... Posted by US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly on Friday, November 8, 2024 Here's the updated status for each of the five wi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
House Evacuations Ordered For 'Major' Wildfire In Drought-Stricken South Jersey House Evacuations Ordered For 'Major' Wildfire In Drought-Stricken South Jersey
House Evacuations Ordered For 'Major' Wildfire In Drought-Stricken South Jersey Crews were battling a 200-acre wildfire in Evesham Township, the second one burning in a very dry South Jersey, officials said. As of Thursday afternoon, Nov. 7, 104 structures were threatened and 12 were evacuated due to the fire in the Kettle Run section of Evesham, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. The Forest Fire Service has responded with fire engines, bulldozers, ground crews, a helicopter capable of dropping 350 gallons of water at a time, an observation chopper, and more, the agency said. There was also a 300-acre wildfire burning in Jackson Township. The…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
300-Acre Wildfire Burns In Jackson: What We Know 300-Acre Wildfire Burns In Jackson: What We Know
300-Acre Wildfire Burns In Jackson: What We Know More than a dozen homes were evacuated because of a wildfire in Jackson Township that erupted Wednesday evening, Nov. 6, officials said. The 300-acre Shotgun Wildfire was about 40 percent contained as of 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. The fire was in the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area near Stump Tavern Road. There were 25 structures threatened by the blaze and 15 homes were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday, Nov. 6.Those who evacuated were allowed to return home by 9 p.m.  Six structures remained threatened as…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Wildfire That Threatened 15 South Jersey Homes Nearly Extinguished, Firefighters Say Wildfire That Threatened 15 South Jersey Homes Nearly Extinguished, Firefighters Say
Wildfire That Threatened 15 South Jersey Homes Nearly Extinguished, Firefighters Say A wildfire that threatened more than a dozen homes in Burlington County has been almost completely contained, officials said. About 40 acres burned near Sycamore Avenue in Evesham Township on Wednesday, Oct. 30, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said on Facebook. The fire was 90 percent contained by 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, according to the final update from the NJFFS. There were 15 homes threatened by the wildfire but no one needed to be evacuated. No roads were closed by the fire. WILDFIRE UPDATE: Evesham Twp., Burlington County At 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, the New Je…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Wildfire Consumed 35 Acres In Pine Barrens Forest, Elevated Risk Across NJ Reported Wildfire Consumed 35 Acres In Pine Barrens Forest, Elevated Risk Across NJ Reported
Wildfire Consumed 35 Acres In Pine Barrens Forest, Elevated Risk Across NJ Reported Firefighters were battling a second wildfire in Burlington County in less than a week, officials said. Crews responded to the "multi-acre" fire near Mary Ann Forge Road in the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in Pemberton Township on Wednesday, Oct. 16, the state Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) said in a Facebook post. Officials said the fire had consumed 35 acres but had been 60 percent contained. No evacuations have been issued, no buildings were threatened, and no roads were closed by the wildfire. "Breezy winds with occasional gusts near 20 mph, relative humidity values n…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Smoke Expected To Linger For Days After NJ Forest Fire Smoke Expected To Linger For Days After NJ Forest Fire
Smoke Expected To Linger For Days After NJ Forest Fire A 30-acre forest fire has been contained, however, smoke could linger across parts of South Jersey for days, fire officials said. The fire broke out on Friday, Oct. 11 along Heath Road in the Tamarac section of Medford Township, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. It consumed up to 30 acres by the time it was fully contained on Saturday, Oct. 12. "Smoke is expected to remain present until significant rain falls over the fire area," the agency said. "Forest Fire Service staff will remain on scene and continue to monitor control lines and address areas of concern until significant…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Campfire Accidentally Sparked Huge Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood: Investigators Campfire Accidentally Sparked Huge Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood: Investigators
Campfire Accidentally Sparked Huge Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood: Investigators An illegal and abandoned campfire started a massive wildfire that burned for three days in Ocean County, authorities said. Investigators determined the wildfire was accidentally started by "an unknown person(s) improperly extinguishing a campfire," Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The roughly 189-acre wildfire burned near Fishers Pit, a sand and gravel pit in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. In its final update, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the wildfire was 100 percent contained a…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Smoke Diminshes As Crews Begin Containing Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood (UPDATE) Smoke Diminshes As Crews Begin Containing Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood (UPDATE)
Smoke Diminshes As Crews Begin Containing Wildfire Near Jersey Shore Neighborhood (Update) Smoke has diminished as a massive wildfire burned for a second day in Ocean County, officials said. 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 …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Crews Battle 150-Acre Wildfire Across Ocean County (DEVELOPING) Crews Battle 150-Acre Wildfire Across Ocean County (DEVELOPING)
Crews Battle 150-Acre Wildfire Across Ocean County (Developing) Firefighters were battling a massive wildfire in Ocean County that broke out late Monday, Sept. 9, officials said. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the fire was burning near Fishers Pit, a sand and gravel pit in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. The NJFFS first posted on Twitter about the wildfire at 7:30 p.m. Monday. As of Tuesday morning, the fire had been 20 percent contained to 150 acres, after spreading near Northern Boulevard in the Barnegat Pines neighborhood of Berkeley. "When firefighters arrived on scene initial attack efforts were unsuccessful due to erratic…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Engine Trouble Caused Small Plane Crash Near Atlantic City's Airport, Pilot Uninjured: Police Engine Trouble Caused Small Plane Crash Near Atlantic City's Airport, Pilot Uninjured: Police
Engine Trouble Caused Small Plane Crash Near Atlantic City's Airport, Pilot Uninjured: Police A Florida pilot's small plane crashed when it experienced engine trouble shortly after taking off from Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), authorities said. Galloway Township police responded to the report of a plane crash in a field near the 200 block of Liebig Street at around 3:42 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31. A man called 911, saying the plane hit a tree and he was helping the pilot get out of the aircraft. Investigators said the single-engine Cirrus SR-22 took off from ACY but the plane began experiencing engine trouble. The pilot contacted air traffic control and used the pl…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Forest Fire Erupts At 9,400-Acre Military Facility In NJ After Morning Munitions 'Activity' Forest Fire Erupts At 9,400-Acre Military Facility In NJ After Morning Munitions 'Activity'
Forest Fire Erupts At 9,400-Acre Military Facility In NJ After Morning Munitions 'Activity' The New Jersey Forest Fire Service was on scene of a wildfire that erupted at a 9,400-acre munitions facility after a morning of testing, officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon, July 16. The NJ Forest Fire Service was called to the Warren Grove Air to Ground Range in Ocean County at approximately 2:45 p.m., they said in a post to Facebook. The Little Egg Harbor Police Department this morning warned of "activity" at the 9,400-acre range in Ocean County.  Some were speculating that loud booms heard and felt across New York and New Jersey were a result of something at the range. Noth…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Wildfire Consumes 450 Acres Of Wharton State Forest (UPDATED) Wildfire Consumes 450 Acres Of Wharton State Forest (UPDATED)
Wildfire Consumes 450 Acres Of Wharton State Forest (Updated) A wildfire has consumed 450 acres in Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, authorities said on Friday, July 5. The "Tea time Hill" wildfire had not been contained at all as of 3 p.m., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said. The Forest Fire Service is on scene of the wildfire burning in the area of the Batona Campground and Apple Pie Hill in Tabernacle Township, the state agency said on Facebook. A hunting club and one home were threatened by fire, the agency said. The Batona Campground in Wharton State Forest has been evacuated, it said. Local forest roads were closed nearby. Later…

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by Jon Craig