Fire officials: Downed power line sparked Hopewell wildfire; Pennsville blaze deemed suspicious
The fire, which burned 293 acres, started on March 1—earlier than the typical March 15 onset of wildfire season—and came dangerously close to homes and roads.
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A downed power line caused the first major wildfire of the year in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, with the Hopewell blaze now 100% contained as of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The fire, which burned 293 acres, started on March 1—earlier than the typical March 15 onset of wildfire season—and came dangerously close to homes and roads.
"We're seeing larger size of our fires than normal just because of the conditions were experiencing...The moisture didn't seep into the ground. The fuels are still dried and cured from the fall, so until they start greening up in early May, this is kind of what we're looking at," said Eric Weber with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
ReadyNJ says you can protect yourself from wildfires right now by clearing dry vegetation from your home and getting an emergency kit ready with important documents.
There was supposed to be a scheduled prescribed burn on Tuesday in the Mercer Meadows. The Mercer County Park Commission says that it has been postponed because of the Hopewell wildfire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Officials also say that the Pennsville fire has been deemed suspicious. It covers 377 acres, as confirmed by air mapping on Monday, and is under investigation by the New Jersey DEP Forest Fire Service, the Pennsville Police Department and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Fire Safety.
The NJDEP says the Forest Fire Service has responded to 57 wildfires since the beginning of the month.
