Wharton State Forest Fire - Jackson Rd, Shamong - 250 Acres So Far

[NewSchoolPiney]

All,

I'm sure you've heard of this by now, but it saddens me. This area has some of our favorite 'spots' in the Pine Barrens.

Wharton Forest Fire - 250 Acres Burned so Far

Hopefully, it will be under control soon and I can observe the damage tonight.

Justin

 

[NewSchoolPiney]

Update:

I took a ride back towards the area as they didn't have all the roads blocked off. As of 6:30 PM, the fire was still burning, heading away from Jackson Rd. up the Mullica River towards Goshen (Goshen is a guestimate, just for directional purposes). One of my neighbors was out there (in Forest Fire Service) and told me the details. Looks like it wasn't an accident and it was actually started sometime last night. He said the Forest Fire Service was out there since 5:45 am this morning.

I still don't have any true location details but I'll tell you what. This whole half of Shamong smells like campfire.

Justin

 

[Teegate]

Justin,

Thanks for the update. Keep us informed.

Guy

 

[woodjin]

Unaware of the fire today at 4:30 pm I nearly drove right into a back fire on Jackson road during my lunch break. I later got all the info on the news. What a shame, but at the same time, nothing new. Fire and the barrens have always been symbiotic. The implication of arson however is entirely unnatural and disturbing.

Jeff

 

[gagliarchives]

Here is another one.
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m042105a.htm

 

[BEHR655]

I drove by there on the way home from work. It was right at that new roadside memorial. I only saw two areas that were burnt badly. Most of what I saw was undergrowth burn. I do not know how deep it went into the woods.

Steve

 

[Boyd]

Ah, so that's what was going on last night. I was coming home on Jackson Rd around 8pm or so, and the police had the road blocked off at the Atco Speedway so I had to turn around. I ended up taking Medford Rd through the woods until it become Jackson Road in Medford...

 

[Teegate]

We took a ride today to check out the fire off of Jackson road, and took a few photo's of the area along the Mullica. I was told by a man there it was the backfire.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/teegate/main.php/download/349-1/IMG_5362.jpg

He told us that the hotter area was farther ahead, and we decided to drive down old Atsion Road where we promptly got stuck in the sand. But practice makes perfect and within 5 minutes we were out. We drove around and never did find the actual location the man mentioned.

Guy