Large NJ brush fire shuts down highway

PEMBERTON, N.J. -- Dozens of firefighters are battling a wind-swept brush fire that's burned about 250 acres in southern New Jersey as of early Saturday night.

Smoke from the fire in Pemberton Township forced officials to shut down a four-mile stretch of Route 70 for several hours, and it wasn't known when it would reopen.

About 25 percent of the blaze had been contained by 7:15 p.m.

But fire officials were making progress, even though they were dealing with strong winds that were constantly and quickly changing direction.

One firefighter was treated for minor injuries, but no residents were hurt. And while the fire initially threatened about 50 nearby homes, officials say no evacuations were likely to be ordered.

Authorities don't know what sparked the fire, which broke out around 1 p.m.

Several other smaller brush fires also broke out in the region Saturday afternoon, but no injuries had been reported in those blazes.

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