Wildfire in New Jersey, November 11 to 14, 2001

A brush fire that started mid-day on the 11th consumed more than 50 acres of undeveloped land between Wingate Drive and Hook Road (County Route 551) in Pennsville Township. Hook Road was closed as firefighters battled the blaze. The wind and dry autumn weather contributed to the faster spreading of the fire. Damage to homes was minimal, but a voluntary evacuation was conducted. Smoke hovered over homes along Hook Road from U.S. Route 40 to Mahoney Road. Residents on Union Street watched as nearby flames rose 20 feet in the air. About 15 different fire companies assisted. A high pressure system over the region developed an inversion during the mornings of the 13th and 14th. This prevented the smoke from dispersing higher into the atmosphere as it became trapped under this inversion. Thick smoke shrouded the township those two mornings and forced schools to close. Several major roads including State Route 49 were closed for about three hours because of poor visibilities both mornings. After the 14th, schools were on delayed openings. The unseasonably dry weather caused a couple of spontaneous brush fires, some that began in mulch. No serious injuries were reported. Throughout the state of New Jersey, about 500 wildfires consumed 772 acres of forest and brush from mid-October through mid-November. The unseasonably dry weather helped spread the fires quickly.