http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-08242007-1397446.html
Investigators say forest fire was 'highly suspicious'
By DAVID LEVINSKY
Burlington County Times
SHAMONG — Fire investigators have classified a major forest fire in Wharton State Forest earlier this month as a suspicious fire that was likely set by an unknown arsonist, according to the state Forest Fire Service.
“We’re calling it a highly suspicious fire,” said Bert Plant, a division fire warden with the service. “There’s a history in that area of people lighting fires.”
The fire started Aug. 3 and burned about 2,450 acres of Wharton State Forest, but never threatened any homes. No injuries were reported.
Most of the burned acres were in secluded areas of Shamong, Washington Township and Hammonton, Atlantic County.
The fire is suspected to have started along a dirt road about a mile off Route 206 in Washington Township.
Plant said a smaller 4-acre forest fire was intentionally set in the same area about four days prior to the major blaze. Service firefighters had that blaze contained when the larger fire broke out, but he said it’s possible the first blaze may have spread and grown.
He said the other possible cause is that a second fire was set nearby, which then spread and grew into one massive blaze, Plant said.
Investigators have been unable to find any definitive physical proof of arson, but he said investigators are still looking for evidence and also hope to find a witness who may have seen someone in the area prior to the fire.
“We don’t have a lot of physical evidence but we’re keeping the investigation open and see if we can’t shake out someone who may have saw something or someone,” Plant said.
He said the Forest Fire Service has kept the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office appraised of the situation.
Anyone with information should call the state Forest Fire Service’s Division B headquarters at (609) 726-9010.
Investigators say forest fire was 'highly suspicious'
By DAVID LEVINSKY
Burlington County Times
SHAMONG — Fire investigators have classified a major forest fire in Wharton State Forest earlier this month as a suspicious fire that was likely set by an unknown arsonist, according to the state Forest Fire Service.
“We’re calling it a highly suspicious fire,” said Bert Plant, a division fire warden with the service. “There’s a history in that area of people lighting fires.”
The fire started Aug. 3 and burned about 2,450 acres of Wharton State Forest, but never threatened any homes. No injuries were reported.
Most of the burned acres were in secluded areas of Shamong, Washington Township and Hammonton, Atlantic County.
The fire is suspected to have started along a dirt road about a mile off Route 206 in Washington Township.
Plant said a smaller 4-acre forest fire was intentionally set in the same area about four days prior to the major blaze. Service firefighters had that blaze contained when the larger fire broke out, but he said it’s possible the first blaze may have spread and grown.
He said the other possible cause is that a second fire was set nearby, which then spread and grew into one massive blaze, Plant said.
Investigators have been unable to find any definitive physical proof of arson, but he said investigators are still looking for evidence and also hope to find a witness who may have seen someone in the area prior to the fire.
“We don’t have a lot of physical evidence but we’re keeping the investigation open and see if we can’t shake out someone who may have saw something or someone,” Plant said.
He said the Forest Fire Service has kept the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office appraised of the situation.
Anyone with information should call the state Forest Fire Service’s Division B headquarters at (609) 726-9010.