By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A large brush fire broke out in Gloucester County, New Jersey, amid elevated wildfire conditions this weekend.
• The blaze was reported in West Deptford and smoke was visible “for miles,” including into nearby communities.
• The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and multiple fire agencies responded with ground crews, aircraft and fire boats.
• The fire burned about 160 acres and prompted voluntary evacuations and road closures before full containment.
• Officials said the cause remains under investigation and smoke may linger until rain arrives.
WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — A large brush fire that broke out in Gloucester County amid elevated wildfire risk conditions was fully contained Saturday after consuming about 160 acres of vegetation, authorities said.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded around 11 a.m. to reports of a brush fire near Red Bank and Hessian avenues in West Deptford Township, where heavy plumes of smoke were visible for miles and ash was reported falling in surrounding communities.
Crews from the Forest Fire Service, local fire departments, and mutual-aid partners battled the blaze that threatened approximately 60 structures at its peak, prompting voluntary evacuations and the temporary closure of Red Bank Avenue.
Firefighters employed ground attack, water drops from aircraft and support from fire boats to establish containment lines; officials said the wildfire was 100 percent contained by about 6 p.m. with no structures destroyed and no injuries reported.
Emergency management officials cautioned that smoke could continue to drift across the area until significant rainfall occurs and said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.