A significant wildfire has erupted in Wharton State Forest, southern New Jersey, covering 100 acres as of March 22, 2025.

Earlier in March, another fire, the Scotland Run Fire, burned 191 acres in Franklin Township, but ultimately spared around 60 threatened buildings.

The fire was first detected at 12:57 p.m. on March 22, by an observer in the Blue Anchor Fire Tower, with assistance from the Medford Fire Tower for its location.

Ongoing drought conditions since November 2024 have heightened wildfire risks, prompting officials to urge residents to conserve water.

Visitors to Wharton State Forest are advised to exercise caution due to potentially weakened trees in the burn area.

Currently, the cause of the wildfire remains under investigation, and there have been no reports of injuries.

January 2025 was recorded as the third driest month, with February providing insufficient rainfall to improve groundwater levels.

Fire crews will remain on-site for several days to reinforce containment lines and monitor for any remaining hotspots, with lingering smoke expected until significant rainfall occurs.

Widespread rainfall is anticipated on March 24, which may help reduce smoke in the area.

On the same day the fire was detected, winds in the Philadelphia area reached gusts of 35 mph, marking the 27th day of such wind speeds recorded in 2025.

Evacuations were ordered for the Goshen Pond and Atsion Family campgrounds due to the fire's proximity to 18 structures, although the flames are moving away from these homes.

As of March 24, 2025, no homes or structures are at risk, and all previously closed roads have been reopened.