SHAMONG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) - Dozens of firefighters are battling a blaze in the Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, NJ.

Officials say it was spotted about 7 AM this morning and had already singed about 20 acres near Route 206 in Shamong Township.

Officials say it could reach 170 acres (in part due to “backfires” being set by firefighters) before it’s contained.

Bert Plante, a warden with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, says containment could happen later today.

“Of course, a fire like that in an area like that may burn for an extended period of time,” he explained to KYW Newsradio, “kind of like charcoal would: a lot of smoke, a lot of heat, but no open flames to speak of.”

The wildfire wasn’t threatening any homes.  The cause was still under investigation.

Reported by Ian Bush, KYW Newsradio 1060