NJ says Old Mine Wildfire at Delaware Water Gap 100% contained
HARDWICK — The Old Mine Wildfire, which broke out on the western side of Kittatinny Ridge in Worthington State Forest on Tuesday and spread to 34 acres, was 100% contained as of 8 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service.
"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," the Service said in a Wednesday evening on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The NJ Forest Fire Service and National Park Service will continue to monitor the fire area for several days.
There are no homes in the area of the fire. No structures are threatened, the Forest Five Service said.
Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion
Two state firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion Tuesday in the initial stages of the fire. Both were treated and released, officials said. State crews were being assisted by fire crews from the National Park Service's Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
In an initial post on Tuesday, the state agency said the fire originated on National Park Service property "and is believed to be human caused."
On Tuesday, the service brought in a "single engine air tanker" which made several passes over the fire scene. The aircraft is capable of dropping up to 800 gallons of water at a time. Also in the area was an observation helicopter.
Earlier: Don't worry — they're burning parts of Kittatinny Valley State Park on purpose
The state service said that earlier on Tuesday, its crews conducted a prescribed burn more than a mile away from the origin of the Old Mine Wildfire on state-owned property managed by Worthington State Forest. That fire was immediately doused and the crews and equipment moved to the nearby Old Mine Wildfire, officials said.
Old Mine Wildfire not connected to prescribed burn
On Facebook, the agency 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."
Prescribed burns have been used for centuries, but now are conducted with modern management techniques and when weather conditions are conducive. Such controls greatly reduce the dangers of such a fire getting out of control, officials say.
The prescribed burns are seen as an effective and efficient means of managing the buildup of forest fuels that may contribute to the start and spread of wildfires. By actively eliminating sources of fuel that exacerbate forest fire risks through a controlled and prescribed burning program, the Forest Fire Service reduces risk to New Jersey residents, visitors and the environment.
Prescribed burns improve habitat for plants and animals, reduce the presence of damaging insects and ticks, and recycle nutrients into the soil.
According to the Forest Fire Service, prescribed burning is an important part of the state’s carbon defense strategy. Allowing experts to choose the intensity, timing and interval of fire across the landscape may help prevent a larger uncontrolled wildfire, which would contribute to significant carbon loss, they say.
Typically, most prescribed burns take place between February and early April. Tuesday's weather in the area included light winds, temperatures in the 70s and relative humidity low, in the 30% range.
The Forest Fire Service posts its schedule daily on its Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/NJForestFireService.
Email: bscruton@njherald.com Twitter/X: Twitter: @brucescrutonNJH
This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Two firefighters injured battling wildfire near Delaware Water Gap
