Large Brush Fire Burning in Southern NJ

Large brush fire damaged more than 40 acres

Dozens of firefighters are battling a large brush fire that's damaged about 540 acres in southern New Jersey.

No injuries have been reported in Saturday's blaze in Barnegat.

But police in the Ocean County community say several neighborhoods near the blaze and a mobile home park were evacuated due to heavy smoke.

About 50 people were in shelters Saturday night, but the blaze isn't expected to threaten their homes.

It's not clear what sparked the fire, which was reported around 12:15 p.m. and was still burning as of 7:15 p.m. Firefighters have set back fires and plowed fire lines to contain the blaze, which they believe will burn itself out.

The fire is near the site of a similar blaze that destroyed about 75 acres in April 2008.


      

 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us