Dry conditions and whipping winds helped spread a forest fire in Wharton State Forest early Tuesday.
WATERFORD TWP. -- Dry conditions and whipping winds helped spread a forest fire in Wharton State Forest to approximately 200 acres early Tuesday.
Forest Fire Service Division C Warden Bill Donnelly said 30 service firefighters dug trenches throughout the morning and had the fire roughly 35 percent contained in by 7:30 a.m.
"I don't anticipate it getting much larger," he said.
Donnelly said the cause of the fire, reported around 1:30 a.m., is under investigation. No one has been injured and the fire is not threatening any structures.
"This had the potential to be thousands of acres," he said. "These winds have been causing havoc."
The lack of precipitation and windy weather caused the fire service to warn of a high fire danger in southern and central New Jersey. The risk is low in the northern part of the state, according to the fire service.
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The southern division of the Forest Fire Service was also battling forest fires in Buena Vista Township and Mullica Township, both in Atlantic County. Donnelly said both fires were large but under control.
The Wharton State Forest fire was burning in the area of Sandy Causeway near the Atlantic county line, he said.
Working at the scene of were nine fire engines, two water tankers, two bulldozers to dig at the "fire line" and one helicopter observing from above and feeding information to the firefighters on the ground, Donnelly said.
A 100-acre blaze broke out in Wharton State Forest in April. In May 2015, burned over 700 acres and forced some to evacuate their homes.
Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.