WILDFIRE UPDATE: River Road Wildfire – Washington Twp., Burlington County

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service achieved 95 percent containment of a 257-acre wildfire burning off Route 542, River Road and Old Church Road in Washington Township, Burlington County.

✅ Old Church Road and River Road have reopened.

During today’s operation period, firefighters successfully reinforced containment lines despite red flag fire weather conditions.

Forest Fire Service staff will remain on scene and continue to monitor control lines and address areas of concern until significant precipitation occurs to ensure public safety. Those traveling in the area of the fire are reminded to use caution while traveling as smoke conditions may exist for several days.

Yesterday, 30 structures were threatened by the fire. Evacuations of the homes threatened were voluntary. Structure protection was provided by volunteer fire departments from Ocean County, Burlington County and Atlantic County. We thank them for their assistance.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

No injuries were reported.

No further updates are expected to be released for this incident.

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Helpful Wildfire Terminology
🔥Wildfire – An uncontrolled fire burning the different types of vegetation that cover the land. A wildfire is considered a “major wildfire” after it exceeds 100 acres in size.
🔥Containment – When reporting on a wildfire a percentage of containment will be given, which will state how much of the fireline has been completed.
🔥Backfire – A fire intentionally set along the interior edge of a fireline by Forest Fire Service staff to consume fuel in the path of a wildfire and/or to change the direction of force of a fire’s convection column.
🔥Fireline – The part of a containment or control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil.
🔥Threatened – Critical infrastructure, roads, homes and commercial buildings that are in the vicinity of a wildfire.