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Wildfire Breaks Out at New Jersey Munitions Facility During Scheduled Weapons Testing
A wildfire ignited during scheduled weapons testing at New Jersey's Warren Grove Air to Ground Range, covering 150 acres but posing no immediate threat to structures.
A C-130 Hercules from Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing releases water during Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System Spring Training 2023, April 12, 2023 (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber)
A wildfire ignited on Tuesday at the Warren Grove Air to Ground Range in Ocean County, New Jersey, where weapons testing had been planned earlier in the day, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The range, encompassing 9,400 acres with extensive airspace, is utilized by combat aircraft and helicopters from across the Northeast for live fire exercises, making it one of the busiest National Guard ranges in the U.S.
The blaze was first reported around 2:15 p.m., prompting a response from state firefighters who arrived to assess the situation. By 4:30 p.m., the fire had spread to cover 150 acres within the facility, which is located approximately 34 miles south of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey's largest military installation. Despite the significant acreage affected, officials confirmed that no structures were in immediate danger, and no evacuations were deemed necessary.
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Earlier in the day, authorities from Little Egg Harbor Township had cautioned local residents about potential loud noises resulting from scheduled testing activities between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. However, the cause of the wildfire and its precise containment efforts remain under ongoing assessment by firefighting personnel on site.
