WILDFIRE UPDATE: Wharton State Forest – Maple Branch Fire – Washington Township

At 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has achieved 100 percent containment of a 98-acre wildfire in Wharton State Forest off Maple Branch and Bulltown roads.

Yesterday Forest Fire Service crews conducted a backfiring operation which aided in containment efforts.

Batsto Village has reopened. The Buttonwood Campground remains closed. The Batona Trail has reopened from Bulltown to Batsto.

Forest Fire Service staff will remain on scene to continue improving containment lines and monitor the area to ensure public safety. Smoke conditions may remain for several days.

The fire’s cause remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

No further updates are expected to be released for this incident.

Helpful Wildfire Terminology
🔥 Wildfire – An uncontrolled fire burning the different types of vegetation that cover the land. A wildfire is considered a “major wildfire” after it exceeds 100 acres in size.
🔥 Containment – When reporting on a wildfire a percentage of containment will be given, which will state how much of the fireline has been completed.
🔥 Backfire – A fire intentionally set along the interior edge of a fireline by Forest Fire Service staff to consume fuel in the path of a wildfire and/or to change the direction of force of a fire’s convection column.
🔥 Fireline – The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil.
🔥 Threatened – Critical infrastructure, roads, homes and commercial buildings that are in the vicinity of a wildfire.

Media and Photos courtesy of NJFFS