Wildfire spreads to 1,000 acres in New Jersey

Firefighters are working to control a large wildfire in Wharton State Forest, New Jersey. The fire, named the California Branch Wildfire, began on Saturday afternoon and has already burned 1,000 acres. Two campgrounds near the fire have been evacuated for safety. Several roads in the surrounding area have also been closed. The forest, located about 30 miles southeast of Philadelphia, reported that the fire was only 20 percent contained by late Saturday night. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, and the fire is moving away from nearby structures. New Jersey's fire risk is currently at a moderate level, which is the second-lowest on a five-tier scale. Officials are concerned about the upcoming wildfire season, which usually peaks between mid-March and mid-May. This year may be particularly challenging due to dry weather, including the third-driest January recorded. Since January, the state has dealt with 381 wildfires that have burned a total of 1,242 acres. This number represents a significant increase of 266 percent compared to the same time last year.