Wharton State Forest Fire Map: Batona Campground Evacuated, Batona Trail Closed As Blaze Threatens Structures

Firefighters are currently engaged in efforts to contain a wildfire that has engulfed approximately 450 acres of the Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, New Jersey. The fire, which began on Friday, has prompted several emergency measures and closures in the area.,Evacuations and ClosuresAuthorities have decided to take precautions and have evacuated the Batona Campground in the Wharton State Forest. In addition, the section of the Batona Trail between Carranza Road and Route 532 is closed. Additionally, the area around Apple Pie Hill to Hawkins Bridge in Tulpehocken is blocked. Carranza Road will be blocked later today from the Carranza Memorial to Speedwell Road at Friendship Field. Local routes within the forest remain impassable. Fire Characteristics and ChallengesThomas Gerber, the section fire warden, gave information on the difficulties the firefighting teams experienced. At a press conference, he said, "The fire is burning in a very rugged area. A large portion of the Wharton State Forest is inaccessible to cars or fire apparatus. It is an extremely thick pine forest since portions of the region have not seen fire since 1954."Threatened StructuresTwo buildings—a residential complex and a hunting club—have been identified by officials as being at risk from the wildfire. An attempt is being made to safeguard these buildings and stop more harm.

STRUCTURES THREATNED
⚠️ 2 structures threatened (1 hunting club & 1 residential structure)

EVACUATIONS
⚠️ The Batona Campground in Wharton State Forest has been evacuated.

— New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) July 5, 2024

Containment EffortsBackfire operations are being used by the fire departments to burn fuel ahead of the fire's main body. The goal of this method is to support containment initiatives. Officials have reported that the fire is now 100% controlled despite their efforts. Investigations are ongoing to determine what started the blaze. Public Safety AdvisoriesThe public is being asked by the authorities to stay away from the region and to not fly drones in the fire zones. To protect the public and firefighting crews, these precautions are essential. Weather Conditions and Fire ImpactHigh humidity and a lack of strong winds on Friday make the weather unsuitable for wildfires, according to meteorologist Grant Gilmore. On the other hand, moderate drought conditions, not seen since December, started to occur in several sections of the state last week. The current heat and lack of substantial rain have led the plants to dry up quickly even though there has been an abundance of yearly rainfall. Historical ContextIn New Jersey, more than 18,000 acres of woodland burnt in 2023. More large fires were handled by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (NJFFS) last year than in the preceding 20 years. The County Line wildfire, which impacted regions between Burlington and Camden counties, was the state's first significant wildfire of 2024. Current StatusThe NJFFS has named the wildfire the Tea Time Hill Wildfire, and it still presents a lot of obstacles. Officials will offer more information as the situation changes.