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.

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 clear igniting dry vegetation from your home and get an emergency kit ready with important documents.

There was supposed to be a scheduled prescribed burn today in the Mercer Meadows. The Mercer County Park Commission says that has been postponed because of the Hopewell wildfire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

In related news, the Pennsville fire has been deemed suspicious. It covers 377 acres as confirmed by air mapping yesterday and is under investigation by the New Jersey DEP Forest Fire Service, Pennsville Police Department, and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Fire Safety.