Those numbers are the same as the previous update shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday when the state forest fire service said it was making substantial progress in battling the fire — the largest in New Jersey this year.
Smoke from the fire that is burning in Ocean and Burlington counties forced a 25-mile closure of the Garden State Parkway between exit 38 in Atlantic County and exit 63 in Ocean County. In addition, the following local roads are impacted:
- Allen Road is closed
- Oswego Road is closed
- Stage Road is closed between North Maple Avenue and Route 679
- Route 679 is closed between Rt. 563 and Leaktown Road
There were also air quality alerts in 16 New Jersey counties on Friday.
Though the Timberline Lake Camping Resort in the New Gretna section of Bass River Township remains closed, no homes are threatened, officials said.
The wildfire is the second this week in New Jersey. A 158-acre wildfire that burned from Monday night into Tuesday in a wildlife management area in Gloucester County was fully contained by Tuesday afternoon. No one was injured and there were no evacuations during the fire in White Oaks Wildlife Management Area in Monroe and Franklin townships.
The previous largest fire in New Jersey this year consumed 3,859 acres in Manchester in April.
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
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