JACKSON, N.J. — Firefighting teams were actively working to control two forest fires in southern New Jersey on Thursday, with no reports of injuries or damage to property as of yet.

The first fire, detected on Wednesday in Jackson Township, Ocean County, has expanded to cover nearly half a square mile (approximately 1.2 square kilometers) and is currently 40% contained, as reported by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. This particular incident, dubbed the “shotgun wildfire,” prompted the evacuation of over a dozen residences on Wednesday; however, those individuals were allowed to return home later that night.

To manage the flames, firefighters implemented a backfire strategy, intentionally igniting controlled burns in advance of the main fire to prevent its spread.

The second fire ignited early Thursday in Evesham, Burlington County. The precise size of this fire has not yet been determined, but authorities indicated that around 50 structures are at risk. It remains unclear whether any evacuation orders would be issued in that area.

Investigations into the causes of both fires are currently ongoing.

Recent dry spells have contributed to an uptick in wildfires across New Jersey, with the region experiencing a lack of significant rainfall for over a month. Weather forecasts suggest that this dry pattern is likely to persist for several days to come.