The wildfire that broke out in the Delaware Water Gap area on Tuesday is now fully contained, according to officials from the State Forest Fire Service. The fire, which consumed a total of 34 acres, started in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Worthington State Forest in Warren County.
The fire was first reported around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, initially covering five acres. By Tuesday night, it had grown to 30 acres and was about 25% contained. By Wednesday evening, officials announced that the fire was 100% contained.
During the firefighting efforts, two firefighters were treated for heat-related injuries. They were treated at the scene and are now doing well, according to officials.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, the Forest Fire Service has stated that it is not related to a prescribed burn that occurred about a mile away earlier on Tuesday.
Old Mine Road in Knowlton Township, which was closed for most of Wednesday due to the fire, has since reopened. Fire crews will continue to monitor the area for a few more days as a precaution.
This incident comes during peak wildfire season, which typically begins in mid-March and runs through mid-May, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Last year, 1,193 wildfires burned 18,043 acres statewide, marking the most active fire season in New Jersey in a decade.