New Jersey wildfires could burn for ‘a couple of months’ officials warn

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A pair of wildfires in Burlington County — one in Browns Mills and another in Evesham — could burn for months, as officials say the area needs precipitation

A pair of wildfires that firefighters are currently attempting to contain in New Jersey could continue to burn for “a couple of months” officials warned, as the area is in need of precipitation.

“You could see these fires not be declared out for a couple months, worst case,” said Scott Freedman, deputy chief of the Evesham Township Fire-Rescue.

During an event on Saturday morning, intended to update the response on a pair of wildfires in Burlington County — one in Browns Mills and another in Evesham — Freedman said that the region has seen above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation this year, leading to conditions that make it easier for wildfires to spread.

And, the forecast for the near future, he said, doesn’t seem to call for much rain to help extinguish these fires.

“It doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot of relief going forward,” said Freedman. “Up until Mother Nature speaks, it’s just a best guess.”

Overnight, firefighters worked to contain these wildfires.

Also, this fire, Tom Gerber, a forest fire warden with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said, threatens five structures and has caused the closure of Kettle Run Road between Braddock Mill Road and Sycamore Ave.

Fire crews, he said, are protecting these residential structures and no one has been evacuated.

Officials said that an investigation is ongoing to determine what might have caused these wildfires.

Source: NBC News