A massive forest fire in central New Jersey has spread across 2,500 acres and is only 10% contained, fire officials said early Wednesday morning.
Footage taken from a helicopter Tuesday night showed the enormous fire stretched across several square miles engulfing trees and setting the sky an ominous smoky orange. It erupted in Manchester Township, New Jersey, forcing the evacuation of 170 structures and threatening 75 others, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
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🚨#BREAKING: A massive forest fire has broken out as 25 structures in the area are currently being threatened
📌#Manchester | #NewJersey⁰
Currently a massive forest fire is currently raging in Manchester Township, New Jersey, as it’s threatening 25 structures and prompting… pic.twitter.com/EypR29X8Fh— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 12, 2023
No injuries have been reported, per WPVI, which added that the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Several state highways were closed due to the fire. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said evacuated residents were transported to the Manchester Township High School and are being taken care of by the American Red Cross, Manchester Township EMS, Manchester Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.
Manchester Township is located about 50 miles east of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Several brush fires were reported in northern New Jersey on Tuesday near Jersey City.
In New Jersey, April marks peak wildfire season, according to the state Forest Fire Service. The agency says an average of 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of New Jersey’s forests each year.