1,000-acre forest fire in Pine Barrens now contained

The forest fire that burned about 1,000 acres in the Pine Barrens area of New Jersey is completely contained, officials said late Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day Tuesday, the giant fire — which started on Labor Day and sent smoke smells as far as New York — was considered between 50 and 65 percent contained, but officials stressed they were making good headway toward total containment. No property has been damaged been damaged, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna said.

The fire began in Woodland Township and crossed county lines into Ocean. Hajna said the containment effort included about a dozen wildfire trucks and four bulldozers. Local fire crews also assisted.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.