CNBNews

The statement below is from Commissioner Jonathan Young regarding the impacts of the still burning wildfires on air quality in Camden County.  

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2024--

"Throughout Camden County this morning, residents may have woken up to the smell of smoke and seen small flickers of ash from the handful of wildfires currently burning throughout South Jersey. The Camden County Office of Emergency Management has been monitoring the fire events through its peers in the surrounding counties and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. In addition, we deployed assets from the Department of Public Safety to assist firefighting at the Bethany Run wildfire burning on the Voorhees and Evesham border last week. The 360-acre event was contained this weekend, but wildfires continue to burn throughout the state, most notably a 2,500-acre fire in West Milford that is currently 0% contained. Nevertheless, these fires are not physically near us, for the most part, but the wind has carried some of the smell and ash our way.

"The state has been under a drought watch since Oct. 17, and we have been in a historic period of experiencing no rainfall since September. Hopefully, that will end today, help to disperse the smoke in the atmosphere, and provide overdue assistance to the brave members of the state Forest Fire Service and all of the local fire departments supporting them.

"That said, depending on the force and trajectory of the wind, residents may continue to smell more smoke during the shifting atmospheric conditions. Based on that, know that the source of the forest fire is not threatening homes and that Camden County is not under any threat. We will keep an eye on this situation and update the public if our partners relay more important information to us.

"For all of our neighbors that have respiratory conditions, please limit your time outdoors and keep your windows closed during this time.  "