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Large Brush Fire Near Wharton State Forest Contained

SHAMONG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS/AP) — Officials say a large blaze that burned roughly 300 acres near New Jersey's Wharton State Forest in Burlington County, New Jersey has been completely contained.

The fire in Shamong Township was spotted around 9:45 a.m. Saturday by staffers at the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Medford Fire Tower.

State officials said no evacuations were ordered and none of the roughly 30 homes in the area were damaged by the flames.

Firefighters set up a large containment area around the fire and set backfires to stop the main blaze. They also conducted backfire operations between the main fire and the homes.

Forked Neck Road and Bards Bridge Road were reopened to traffic.

Residents were being urged to use caution in the area and were told to expect smoke to linger for a few days as the fire burns out.

Wharton State Forest spans Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(TM and © Copyright 2017 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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