Wildfire in New Jersey, April 29 to 30, 2000

A forest fire began about 2 p.m. EDT in the vicinity of Hesstown Road and New Jersey State Route 49 in Maurice River Township and spread into the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area. The fire was exacerbated by the recent run of below normal rainfall and gusty northwest winds. The fire threatened dozens of homes along New Jersey State Route 49 and Estell Manor Road. No residents were evacuated, but six miles of the state route were closed to vehicular traffic. The fire was contained at 815 p.m. EDT, but not before it scorched about 350 acres. This was the largest of the 16 fires that started on the weekend of April 29th and 30th. A pair of salt marsh fires occurred on the weekend in Sayreville and Old Bridge in Middlesex County. The former burned 30 acres. A brush fire started along the Garden State Parkway near exit 100 in Tinton Falls (Monmouth County) at 8 p.m. EDT on the 30th. It was extinguished in an hour. The peak wind gust at the Atlantic City International Airport was from the north at 22 mph on the 29th and from the northwest at 33 mph on the 30th. No injuries were reported.