Firefighters had begun boomeranging in an effort to contain the blaze, according to reports along the Mullica River in Washington, DC, Shamong, Mullica and Hammonton Townships in Pine Barrens. At 5 p.m., the fire department said no construction was threatened. Two hours later that had changed, with six structures at Paradise Lakes Campground in Hammonton in danger. The camp site was evacuated. Local firefighters from Atlantic and Burlington counties provided protection for the structure. No injuries were reported, according to the fire department, which first reported the fire on its Facebook page at around 1 p.m. Boat launches along the Mullica River, as well as the Mullica River campsite and the Mullica River Trail, will remain closed from the Atsion recreation area to the village of Batsto until further notice. Batsto Village and all related hiking and mountain biking trails are closed to visitors, the fire department said. Pinelands Adventures had suspended kayaking and canoeing. According to the fire service, a fire becomes a “big fire” after exceeding 100 acres. The Wharton State Forest consists of 115,000 acres spread across Burlington and Atlantic counties. Dry and gaseous conditions on Sunday, with gusts of wind at times close to 30 mph, contributed to the fire, the National Weather Service in Mount Holly said. The winds were expected to calm down on Sunday afternoon.
