Forest Fire Service battles blaze in Burlington County, campground evacuated

TABERNACLE - A wildfire that caused the evacuation of a campground here had grown to about 1,200 acres by Friday evening, authorities said.

But firefighters were making progress against the blaze in the Wharton State Forest. It was 40 percent contained around 8 p.m., said the state Forest Fire Service.

It said crews had conducted a backfire operation to burn fuel ahead of the main body of fire. That was intended to help control the blaze.

Overnight crews will monitor and improve control lines, it said.

The Tea Time Hill Wildfire, which was reported Friday morning, was threatening two structures, a home and a gun club.

The fire was burning near Apple Pie Hill and the Batona Campground, which was evacuated Monday morning.

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No private homes were evacuated, the fire service said.

It asked people to avoid the area and closed roads inside the forest.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Forest Fire Service battles blaze in Burlington County, campground evacuated