July 4 fireworks cause major 4,000 acre NJ wildfire in Wharton State Forest

🔥 Fire is 75% contained

🔥 Investigators find fireworks caused blaze

🔥 Biggest NJ wildfire yet of 2024

TABERNACLE — A South Jersey fire consuming thousands of acres of state forest is now 75% contained, according to the latest update from officials.

Investigators now believe New Jersey's largest wildfire of the year so far was started by someone setting off fireworks within Wharton State Forest late on July 4, officials said Sunday afternoon.

Fireworks are strictly prohibited at state parks and forests including beaches, campgrounds, fields, and forested areas, officials said.

Anyone who has more information about who started the fire or how it started asked to contact New Jersey State Park Police at 844-PARK-TIP (844-727-5847).

NJ wildfire consumes 4,000 acres

The state Forest Fire Service first detected the blaze in Wharton State Forest around 9 a.m. Friday morning. It ignited near the area of Batona Campground and Apple Pie Hill.

The Tea Time Hill Wildfire has chewed through over 4,000 acres of trees and brush as of Sunday morning despite firefighters' best efforts to contain it. However, it has not grown since Saturday night.

A residential structure and a hunting club had been threatened by the fire at first but officials later said they were safe.

No structures were threatened as of Sunday morning, though the Batona Campground was evacuated.

Crews began a backfire operation around midday on Friday in an attempt to burn fuel before the fire spread. At the time, the fire had spread to 100 acres.

In addition to ground crews, the NJFFS has been using a helicopter to drop hundreds of gallons of water per trip.

READ MORE: NJ driver faces charges after deadly July 4th crash at park

Biggest NJ wildfire yet of 2024

At 4,000 acres, the Tea Time Hill Wildfire is the largest in New Jersey of 2024 so far.

It's also larger than every wildfire last year except for one: the May 31, 2023 Allen Road wildfire consumed 5,474 acres, according to officials.

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