Without Rain, Wildfire Threat Remains High in NJ Monday

Conditions remain ideal Monday for wildfires to spread in New Jersey's forests after two flareups on Sunday.

A fire reported around 9:30 a.m. Sunday inside Wharton State Forest along Quakerbridge Road in Shamong was 75 percent contained as of early Monday, according to New Jersey Forest Fire Service spokesman Robert Geist. Crews are expected to be at the fire for much of the day according to Geist.

Geist said that FFS responders from Division B and from Division C used six brush trucks, a tractor/plow unit, one drop plane and one helicopter with a bucket on scene to hold the fire to 113 acres. He said there were no evacuations are there are no structures in the area.

The Forest Fire Service reported another fire in the Glen Grey section of Bergen County park system in Mahwah on Sunday afternoon. It was 100% contained on Sunday afternoon Geist said.

A 10-acre fire was contained on Monday morning in the Manasquan River Water Management Area in Brick Township on Sally Ike Road according to the FFS.

No official warning was issued on Sunday about the threat of fires as the minimum wind speed was not reached.

WPG Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said with no rain in the forecast until the end of the week and low humidity, the fire danger will remain high.

"Luckily, winds will remain light for Monday, only 5 to 10 mph," Zarrow said. "That will limit the rapid spread of any ongoing fires. However, those winds will also be variable - changes in wind direction can make firefighting difficult as the direction of the flames and smoke may be constantly shifting"