A raging forest fire in the Philadelphia suburb of Evesham, New Jersey, is posing a significant threat to roughly 50 homes amid what officials call the most arid conditions in nearly 120 years. Concurrently, a blaze in Jackson Township is less than 50% contained. "This is the driest we've been in the agency's history," remarked Jeremy Webber, a supervising fire warden with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, established in 1906.
The relentless drought, spurred by a lack of substantial rain since August, has led to tight restrictions on outdoor fires statewide. While residents near the Jackson fire have been temporarily evacuated, containment efforts continue. The fire service shared that no immediate evacuations are required for Evesham's threatened homes. Joann Bertone, a local resident, recounted the tense situation as neighbors made emergency arrangements for animals, stating, "It was extremely scary ... nerve-wracking."
These fires are part of a surge in wildfires across New Jersey, with 102 incidents recorded since November 1, burning under a square mile. Despite expectations of rain in the coming days, Webber emphasized the need for significant precipitation to make an impact, saying, "We're going to need inches of rain, not just one or two." Meanwhile, the origins of both fires remain under investigation, as authorities seek to mitigate the pervasive threat to communities. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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