Multi-acre forest fire Burning in Morris County Investigators said the fire charred more than 100 acres and forced the evacuation of several homes in the area.

The blaze, called the Craigmeur Lookout Fire by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, was burning in the Notch Road area near the Craigmeur Recreation Complex in Rockaway Township and had grown to 118 acres by Friday evening.

Fire officials said the fire was 10% contained as of 4 p.m., threatening to damage 13 structures in the area and prompting the voluntary evacuation of eight homes.

Officials said firefighters and two helicopters, each capable of dropping up to 350 gallons of water, were on the scene.

There is dry weather and strong winds on Friday. red flag fire warnings It was in effect in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties until 7 p.m.

Additionally, a 110-acre forest fire continues. Downe County Another wildfire broke out in Cumberland County pennsylvania Officials in Camden County forced the suspension of NJ Transit’s Atlantic City train line.

Dry, windy conditions also helped fuel a smaller wildfire caused by a truck fire on the New Jersey Turnpike in Carteret, officials said.

The truck crashed into the Turnpike’s northbound truck lanes between Exit 12 and Exit 13, then started a brush fire along the Rahway River between Carteret and Linden “due to the extremely dry conditions we’re experiencing,” Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman said. in question.

“This fire poses no threat to people, homes or businesses,” the mayor wrote on his Facebook page. “NJ Forestry Crews are actively managing the situation with a controlled burn and will remain on site with our emergency services crews until the fire is fully controlled.”

Latest national drought situation reportReleased Thursday morning shows 54% of New Jersey is currently experiencing a crisis severe drought and the rest of the state has moderate drought conditions.

The counties with the worst drought conditions are Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem, as well as parts of Hunterdon, Mercer and Monmouth.