Firefighters Continue to Battle Forest Fire in Little Egg Harbor

Lots of people smelled the smoke, but many are living with the nightmare of fire barrelling down on their homes.

A fire broke out Sunday in the Bass River State Forest, hitting Little Egg Harbor Township. The blaze, being fought by dozens, if not hundreds of firefighters, has forced the closing of parts of Route 9 in Southern Ocean County. Many families have evacuated their homes from the fire and smoke.

11am Update:

Little Egg Harbor police chief Richard Buzby held a new conference this morning and provided this information

617 acres burned, 40% contained
50 fire companies responded along with the Forest Fire Service
No injuries
None of the structures damaged
He expects more containment this afternoon.

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Scenes from the fire scene have been unimaginable.

A couple of weeks without significant rainfall has allowed the fire to spread.

Late Sunday night, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service described the fire as a "70-acre wildfire in an area west of Otis Bog Road and south of Stage Road in Little Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County and in Burlington County."

At that time, firefighters were calling at least 100 structures "at risk." The forest fire service says Pinelands Middle School is set up as a shelter for those who have evacuated.

News crews from throughout the area have been covering the fire:

SOURCE: New Jersey Forest Fire Service

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