Ocean County Forest Fire Updates: 617 Acres Burned, Route 9 Open

LITTLE EGG HARBOR, NJ — A fire continues to rage in the Bass River State Forest, burning several hundred acres as of Monday and closing local roads, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office said. It was the second forest fire to hit Ocean County in two months.

Route 9 was reopened on Monday morning after it was closed for several hours, authorities said. Little Egg Harbor police have advised motorists to avoid areas south of Stage Road, west of Otis Bog Road and Carolyn Drive.

Trevor Raynor, a section warden for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said that the fire was 40 percent contained as of mid-day Monday. There was no major structural or property damage.

Voluntary evacuations were underway in the Little Egg Harbor Township area, police said. The Pinelands Middle School was used as a designated shelter for those wishing to leave their homes.

Little Egg Harbor-area parents have been urged to contact the main office or the guidance department if their child cannot attend school due to road blockages so they can attend class virtually.

Raynor said the forest fire service does not know the cause of the blaze, which comes two months after another large forest fire damaged 29 homes and shut down highways in Ocean County. That fire was determined to be "intentionally set." Read more: Ocean County Forest Fire 'Intentionally Set,' Prosecutor Says

It's not common for the Ocean County area to have two large forest fires within two months of each other. Raynor, speaking at a news conference in Little Egg Harbor on Monday, said that dry conditions and the lack of rainy weather may be contributing factors.

After initially reporting that around 1,000 acres burned, Raynor said the number was reduced to 617 acres on Monday because of fire suppression tactics.

Police and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service provided an update on Monday morning, announcing that the fire is under investigation:

Dry conditions and high winds on Monday could reinvigorate the fire, Raynor said. Officials will continue to patrol and sweep the forest floors behind nearby houses.

With no rain expected in the forecast and temperatures pushing to 85 degrees, the forest fire service will remain vigilant over the next two weeks. Smoke may linger in the area until measurable rain comes.

Firefighters started to battle the active wildfire last night, telling ABC6 that the blaze consumed hundreds of acres of land that splits between Ocean and Burlington counties.

Approximately 70 firefighters from across the state worked to get the blaze under control, officials told ABC6.

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.