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Forest Fire Smoke Causes Problems In South Jersey

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Oct 24, 2008 9:00 pm US/Eastern

Forest Fire Smoke Causes Problems In South Jersey

HAMMONTON, N.J. (CBS 3) ― Classes were canceled in Atlantic County and several area roadways were closed as smoke from a New Jersey forest fire blanketed the region Friday.

All public and parochial schools in the area were closed due to low visibility and poor air quality due to smoke from a massive fire burning in the Wharton State Forest.

Several area roadways were shut down in the area due to zero visibility. Police warned drivers to stay off of the White Horse Pike (Route 30) from Spring Garden Road in Camden County to Moss Mill Road (Route 561).

Route 206 was also shut down from White Horse Pike to Stokes Road. Officials reopened the roadway Friday afternoon as the smoke lifted, but expect to shut it down again at 9 p.m. in case of further problems. Police said no accidents have been reported.

Officials at Kessler Hospital said the facility was placed in 'divert mode,' meaning no new patients will be accepted.

Heavy smoke and poor air quality led to an increased number of fire and carbon monoxide alarms going off in the area, police said.

The low-lying smoke is said to be caused by the cooler temperatures overnight. Because of a lack of cloud cover in the area, officials said the cold air has kept the smoke close to the ground.

Conditions improved as temperatures rose in the afternoon hours.

Nearly 2,000 acres of woods in Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties have been burned by the fire which erupted Tuesday afternoon. Fire officials said the fire is mostly control.

The stench of smoke was noticed as far away as Philadelphia.




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