From Fox 29 — No Structures Threatened At This Time, Officials Say. Firefighters are battling a blaze that broke out Tuesday afternoon in Camden County, spread into Burlington County and was nearing Atlantic County, fire officials said.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said at 5:30 p.m. the fire was burning on over 300 acres of forest, which is almost half of a square mile of land.

“They’re hoping to catch the fire at somewhere around 1,000 acres,” forest service Warden Bert Plante said.

The fire was believed to have started around 3 p.m. in Waterford Township, Camden County, authorities said.

It is burning near the Atsion Recreation Area, a part of the Wharton State Forest in Burlington County.

No injuries are reported. Four homes have been evacuated from the fire’s path.

Winds are playing a role in trying to contain the blaze, Plante said.

“At the moment, it’s heading east and southeast. The winds are from the west and northwest, and they’re very gusty this afternoon. ” he said of the fire’s direction. “The winds are predicted to continue tonight, so the problems will continue at least late into the evening.”

Plante said it’s moderately dry out there but added, “Our real problem is the wind.

“We’ve got lot humidity this afternoon. Of course autumn’s coming on, so the trees are shutting down. That makes them drier. And having this type of wind to push the fire, it all comes together to make for real good conditions,” he said.

Authorities said their primary concerns are any structures in the fire’s path.

The closures of Route 206 and Atsion Road in Shamong Township, Burlington County, are also causing some traffic problems for the afternoon commute.

“Any of the … people who live Route 206 in Shamong and Hammontown townships, they’re probably going to be affected by this fire and should definitely stay alert and stay listening to the news,” Plante said.

Assistant State Fire Warden Steve Maurer earlier described the firefighting efforts: “Presently, the forest fire service is burning out, or backfiring, Route 206 in an effort to try to stop the spread of the fire at 206. Basically, right now the road that is involved is south of the Atsion Recreation Area in the Wharton State Forest down toward, I believe, Chew Road, which is Route 536 in Camden County.”

Maurer also said the strong winds and somewhat dry conditions are causes for concern.

“It’s been blowing extremely strong all afternoon and, of course, that makes our suppression efforts that much more difficult — not just from the main part of the fire but also the embers that are being thrown out,” he said.

Multiple volunteer fire companies are at the scene, plus about 10 to 20 state fire engines as well as as many as four firefighting aircraft.