UPDATE: Forest fire in Worthington State Forest, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 100% contained; 34 acres burned
HARDWICK TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – A forest fire that burned through Worthington State Forest and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is 100% contained, state fire officials said Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, April 10 at 8:00 p.m. New Jersey Forest Fire Service and National Park Service crews achieved 100% containment of a 34-acre wildfire burning off Old Mine Road in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Worthington State Forest in Warren County, state fire officials said.
Old Mine Road which was closed earlier has reopened to traffic.
Two firefighters were treated for heat related injuries yesterday during initial attack. Both were treated at the scene, were released, and are doing well, state fire officials said.
The fire which broke out on Tuesday was originated on the National Park Service property and is believed to be human caused, state fire officials said.
Forest Fire Service and National Park Service crews will continue to monitor the fire area for the next several days.
The Forest Fire Service on Tuesday had aviation assets including a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) that can drop up to 800 gallons of water at a time, and an observation helicopter.
Earlier Tuesday, Forest Fire Service crews conducted a prescribed burn more than a mile away from the origin of the Old Mine Wildfire on state property managed by Worthington State Forest. The prescribed burn was immediately ceased to allow Forest Fire Service resources to respond rapidly to the nearby Old Mine Wildfire, state fire officials said.
The Forest Fire Service confirms the prescribed burn neither caused nor impacted the Old Mine Wildfire in Worthington State Forest because the wind direction at the prescribed burn was opposite from the wind direction at the Old Mine Wildfire, state fire officials said.
