Larry Hajna, DEP spokesman, said the fire started on a private property.
WOODLAND TWP. -- The forest fire that consumed more than 1,000 acres in the Pine Barrens and carried the smell of smoke all the way to New York City was likely caused by the improper disposal of charcoal briquettes, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Larry Hajna, spokesman for the DEP, said the fire was contained at about 1,012 acres Tuesday afternoon.
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The blaze was first spotted Monday afternoon from a fire tower in the Woodmansie area of Woodland Township. Hajna said the fire started on private property and quickly spread to the state-owned Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management area.
Officials said 55 firefighters with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service battled the blaze along with local fire departments Tuesday as it spread into Ocean County.
Hajna said the fire is still smoldering, but anything still burning should be put out by rains expected over the next couple of days.
The fire remains under investigation, and Hajna said the Forest Fire Service could seek restitution for the cost of fighting the fire if they end up finding who started it.
Alex Young may be reached at ayoung@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AlexYoungSJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
