Wildfire ignites at Joint Base range
The wildfire's smoke plume as seen from Manchester. (Photo: JSHN contributor Michele Gold-Heimbuch)
Firefighters are battling a wildfire this afternoon at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a military installation that spans portions of Ocean and Burlington counties, a military official said.
The fire broke out around 8:15 a.m. at one of the ranges on the Dix portion of the base, said Tech Sgt. Chris Powell of the installation’s public affairs office, adding that the fire has spread to some of the surrounding ranges.
Powell, who did not immediately have information regarding the fire’s size, said additional information will be forthcoming.
The spokesman said fires on the ranges are a “typical thing that happens during the summer,” citing dry conditions and ongoing artillery training.
The ranges are in isolated areas, according to Powell, who said that there are no reports of endangered structures.
This is a developing story.
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