Wildfire in Burlington County, New Jersey grows to 5,000 acres; 60% contained

SHAMONG TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- The wildfire burning in Burlington County, New Jersey, has grown in size, but firefighters are making progress containing the blaze.

It's happening near the Carranza Memorial Historic Site in the Wharton State Forest in Shamong Twp.



The blaze, dubbed the "Mines Spung Wildfire," is 5,000 acres in size and was 60% contained as of Saturday afternoon, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said.

Five structures were still threatened as of Saturday, fire officials said.



Multiple closures are still in place, including:

• Hampton Road closed

• Tuckerton Rd closed between Carranza Rd. to Washington Rd.

• Carranza Rd from Forked Neck Rd and Tuckerton Rd

• The Batona Trail is closed between Carranza Rd. and Quaker Bridge

• Bulldozer Rd closed

• Batsto River closed between Hampton Rd. and Batsto

• Mullica River closed between Route 206 and Batsto

• Lower Forge Wilderness Campground closed

Officials say the first report of the fire came from a private aircraft flying over the area on Friday morning.





It's not yet known how the fire started.

The Forest Fire Service urges people not to fly drones in the area.

"If you fly, we can't!" officials said in a social media post.