URGENT: Enhanced risk of wildfire spread today throughout most of N.J.
The smoke column from Berkeley as seen from Island Heights Friday morning. (Photo: Jersey Shore Hurricane News contributor Yuna Cloud)
As firefighters continue to battle wildfires in Berkeley Township, the National Weather Service has issued a bulletin advising of an enhanced risk of wildfire spread Friday.
“Low relative humidity levels are expected late this morning into the early afternoon, before they increase late in the afternoon and into the evening ahead of some shower activity,” the bulletin advises. “Winds will be light early in the day, but could become gusty during the afternoon. This will keep an enhanced risk for the spread of fires from late this morning into this afternoon.”
The risk covers all of New Jersey except for the northeastern counties.
Crews continue to make progress on the Berkeley wildfires under the enhanced risk conditions.
The “Continental” blaze, on the eastern side of the Garden State Parkway near the Beachwood border, consumed over 300 acres and forced the evacuation of residents. Crews fully contained the fire late Thursday evening, allowing residents to return home, according to the Berkeley Township Police Department.
Another wildfire to the west of the Garden State Parkway had burned over 200 acres and was over 50 percent contained as of Friday morning, police said. No structures are threatened.
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