Wharton State Forest on Fire

[dogg57]

The fire was reported just after four o'clock Monday Morning, along Moores Meadow Road and South Park Road in Tabernacle.
Fire officials tell Action News that the fire has already charred 500 acres, and is now entering neighboring Woodland Township.
Wind gusts spread the fire, and the gusts are expected to increase later Monday.
New Jersey state strike teams have ordered brush trucks and dozers to the scene to help fight the fires. Air support is also being increased.
Fire is now threatening two dozen homes
Assistant state Fire Warden Steve Maurer says planes and helicopters are flying over the scene to assess the fire and begin dropping water.
As many as 1,000 acres could be affected. Maurer says firefighters lit a backfire to get the blaze away from about 25 homes, but said the homes still could be affected.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.83859542426053&lng=-74.61502075195312&z=14&type=p&gpx=
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8613435

 

[46er]

Don't think it is in Wharton, but north of 532. Going to be a tough day with west winds in the high 20's gusting up to 45mph; heavy smoke in the air here already.

http://www.sectionb10.org/b10_largefireinfo01.html

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/...cle_012bbdde-8236-11e1-9aaf-001a4bcf887a.html

 

[dragoncjo]

Without lightning how do these fires start. Three fires this quickly makes you wonder if they are intentional, especially considering all the media attention.

 

[dogg57]

Don't think it is in Wharton, but north of 532. Going to be a tough day with west winds in the high 20's gusting up to 45mph; heavy smoke in the air here already.

http://www.sectionb10.org/b10_largefireinfo01.html

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/...cle_012bbdde-8236-11e1-9aaf-001a4bcf887a.html

Well Channel 6 reported it to be Wharton.So I will fly over it soon so I will check

 

[piker56]

My boss just told us there was a fire. He lives out that way, near tabernacle. Low humidity and very dry conditions, we really need a good soaking rain

 

[46er]

So I will fly over it soon so I will check

Save the gas, the FFS probably has a pretty good idea where its located

 

[dragoncjo]

It is north of 532 correct?

 

[PINEY MIKE]

Without lightning how do these fires start. Three fires this quickly makes you wonder if they are intentional, especially considering all the media attention.

Cigs...

 

[Boyd]

I think catalytic converters can also start fires, especially on older vehicles where the heat shields are missing/damaged.

 

[woodjin]

I can see the smoke from my living room window. I'm a bit nervous to say the least.

 

[dogg57]

So far no mandatory evacuation have been ordered. Sooy Place Road, near Route 563, and a portion of South Park Road are closed, officials said.
The locations of the threatened homes were not immediately available; however, firefighters and equipment were seen staging around houses off Sooy Road in Woodland.
"It's right in our backyard," Woodland resident Brian Samu said. "Right now we're on standby, They're doing controlled burns but they're telling us the winds are not in our favor."
He said his family has lived in the home for about 11 years and never had a forest fire burn this close.
Sooy Place Road resident Mary Entwistle said several of her neighbors have begun evacuating horses and other livestock, but she said she wasn't worried about her own property.
"They bulldozed a huge fire line in the back of my property and they have fire trucks lining the highway in case someone's house catches fire. I have absolutely no fear," Entwistle said.

 

[woodjin]

I talked to the township. It looks like the wind in blowing east and the fire is mostly contained. So I seem to be in pretty good shape. I hope the folks on sooy place are going to be okay. It is unsettling to have a fire of this size less than a 1/2 mile away.

 

[dragoncjo]

So I'm guessing this is at the triangle section formed by sooy and south park, the woods back there is thick as anything.

 

[dogg57]

So I'm guessing this is at the triangle section formed by sooy and south park, the woods back there is thick as anything.

The fire area is bounded by Route 532 west of Chatsworth; Sooy Place Road to the north; South Park Road to the west; and Big Swamp Road to the east. Sooy Place Road is closed Sooy Place Road is closed to traffic but Route 72 is open under a pall of smoke blowing miles east on the wind.Also Investigators have found evidence the South Park fire was intentionally set overnight, state acting Fire Warden Mike Drake said.

 

[Bachman's Ivory]

Intentionally set http://www.app.com/article/20120409...brush-fire?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

 

[46er]

Map of fire location

http://cmsimg.app.com/apps/pbcsi.dl...NEWS&ArtNo=304090035&Ref=H5&MaxW=600&Border=0

 

[Gibby]

I was working in Chesterfield today and could see the smoke from the fire billowing into the sky. It was intense that it could be seen from that far away and carry over most of the horizon we had in view. Why would anyone start a fire?! I find it disturbing.

 

[dogg57]

Division Fire Warden Greg McLaughlin describes it as "definitely suspicious in nature." McLaughlin says officials continue to investigate and should know the cause within a day or two.
Firefighters have contained about 75 percent of the 1,000-acre fire, with full containment expected later Tuesday.
McLaughlin says things have settled down at the blaze, which broke out early Monday in Tabernacle and Woodland. The wildfire was fueled by dry conditions and high winds.
There's no report of injuries or property damage.