Officials say the Tabernacle fire that began early on April 9 is considered suspicious and is currently under investigation.
At a 3:45 p.m. press conference, Michael Achey, assistant division forest fire warden with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said the wild fire, which had spread to involve 1,000 acres was 50 percent contained.
“We’re starting to get the upper hand on the fire now,” he said.
The early report time of the fire makes it suspicious, Achey said.
Usually, wild fires begin during the daylight, he said, which is the ideal time for fires to burn.
Investigators are looking at a suspected point of origin, but elaborated no further.
Two roads were blocked off for safety: Sooy Place Road and South Park Drive.
Achey said 60 New Jersey Forest Fire Service personnel were on the scene, as well as 125 local volunteer firefighters.
The New Jersey State Police, Burlington County and Ocean County offices of emergency management also assisted.
Units will be on the scene throughout the night and Tuesday, he said. Flying embers from the heavy winds are a concern.
The fire is not expected to relinquish for several days, he said.
“We’d like to see some wetting rain,” Achey said.
The fire spread quickly because of the wind and dry conditions from weak cold fronts that dry out the forests.
Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, said to “be very cautious” with cigarettes, matches, fires, wood stoves and fireplaces.
With such dry conditions, a spark can happen extremely fast, he said.
The weather pattern has been going on for weeks, he said, which has dried the forest grounds and has made the leaves as “dry as dust.”
The Pinelands ecosystem is dry to begin with, he said, and rain is needed to break the model.
“People don’t realize this can happen in New Jersey,” Achey said. “When this happens, it’s an eye-opener.”
