POMPTON LAKES — No evacuation order has been given in the borough as a wildfire continues to burn in the Cannonball Road area.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Forest Fire Service posted on X at about 7 a.m. on Saturday that “55 structures are threatened by the fire, however there are no evacuations at this time.”
The Forest Fire Service also reported that 75 acres are burning and as of Saturday morning, it was “0% contained.”
Interstate 287 is impacted with smoke near the intersection with the Wanaque River, posted the Forest Fire Service at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The Pompton Lakes fire chief told NorthJersey.com on Friday night the fire was burning on 10 to 15 acres and was 60% to 70% contained. He said the local volunteer fire department remained on the scene as well.
The fire chief said a Forest Fire Service helicopter dropped water on the fire last night. He confirmed the fire began at the old DuPont factory on Cannonball Road, just off Route 28. As of late last night, no injuries were reported.
The volunteer fire department, on Thursday, urged everyone to beware of fire danger. The department’s Facebook account post reads: “The wildfire danger remains VERY HIGH. Stage 3 fire restrictions are still in effect. No ground fires or fire pits! No fireworks, please! Only elevated grills for cooking allowed. You know the saying – ‘Only YOU can prevent Forest Fires!”
The state is experiencing a drought situation. After more than a month of dry weather, rain is expected to return this weekend, bringing a touch of relief to parched areas across the state, according to meteorologist Joe DeSilva with the National Weather Service.
Showers are likely to begin Sunday and continue into Monday morning, with a total of a quarter to half an inch of rain, DeSilva said. This would mark the first significant rainfall in New Jersey in 35 days, a stretch that has intensified drought concerns and heightened the risk of forest fires in some areas.
Several forest fires have been reported in the last several weeks, including one in Morris County that took days to get under control.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service was also fighting a wildfire on the Palisades in Englewood Cliffs on Friday afternoon, causing some local road closures.
The service deployed fire engines and ground crews to fight the Englewood Cliffs fire, which covered about 39 acres and was about 30% contained Friday, the fire service said.
A Forest Fire Service helicopter capable of dropping 350 gallons of water worked the fire Friday morning.
Forest Fire Service crews anticipated that the fire was unlikely to expand significantly in size. A firefighter was seen battling flames in a dense area of the park as the crews worked to contain the fire fueled by dry conditions.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
