I heard from my friends at NJFFS Section B10 earlier this morning that the fire was contained last night, and that the acreage burned may be around 660 acres, down from 1,200 acres. I just went to the Asbury Park Press who has updated their article on the fire this morning stating that the Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix-Lakehurst and the Pemberton Volunteer Fire Department issued statements that the fire is 100 percent contained at 660 acres. Roads in the area that were closed on Wednesday are now open albeit with some delays as firefighters continue to work in the area.. Firefighters will be monitoring the area burned for hotspots.
April 3rd, 10 PM
I was listening to the NJFFS Division B (central NJ) online scanner on and off all day. I knew about this online scanner through my friends at NJFFS Section B10, they post links to the scanners in all three divisions. I usually listen to Division B for the NJ Pine Barrens, but this scanner also covers some of Division A where I live. Anyway, as I was listening today, I did note some wildfire activity near the Joint Base McGuire-Fort Dix Lakehurst near Pemberton NJ. I later heard reference that one of the NJ Forest Fire Service Huey Helicopters was requested. My friends at the NJFFS Section B10 gave me a heads up about the fire size (1,200 acres), they confirmed that the Huey and bucket flew the fire early (Delta 5). NJFFS crews were requested about 2:30 PM along with the Huey. At the time I wrote this there was no information about containment.
According to an Asbury Park Press report this evening that may be found here, there were road closures in place near the wildfire but there were no evacuations. According to the Joint Base Facebook Page, the fire originated on a training range on the base. The wildland firefighters on the ground (NJFFS, Joint Base crews, and mutual aid from nearby municipalities) will work through the night.
Red Flag Warnings in this area of New Jersey, originally set to expire at 9 PM, are now due to expire at 11 PM.
ABC6 in Philadelphia just posted a video of this from shot from their Helicopter, Chopper 6. I could not get their embed code to work, but here is a direct link to the video that I hope works.
Red Flag Warning
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 854 PM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019 NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106-040300- /O.CON.KPHI.FW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-190404T0300Z/ Sussex-Warren-Morris-Hunterdon-Somerset-Middlesex- Western Monmouth-Eastern Monmouth-Mercer-Salem-Gloucester-Camden- Northwestern Burlington-Ocean-Cumberland-Atlantic-Cape May- Atlantic Coastal Cape May-Coastal Atlantic-Coastal Ocean- Southeastern Burlington-Carbon-Monroe-Berks-Lehigh-Northampton- Delaware-Philadelphia-Western Chester-Eastern Chester- Western Montgomery-Eastern Montgomery-Upper Bucks-Lower Bucks- 854 PM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, * TIMING...Until 11:00 PM this evening. * WINDS...West 15 to 20 mph with gusts 25 to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 to 20 percent this evening, increasing overnight. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds and very dry air will create conditions that will promote the rapid spread of wildfires. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or are imminent due to a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get out of control and become difficult to contain. For more information about wildfire danger, burn restrictions, and wildfire prevention and education, please visit your state forestry or environmental protection website.
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