93-3-WMR Audio on Demand presents the Preston and Steve show podcast.

And now, Preston and Steve's news update with Kathy Romano.

May 17th of Monday morning.

Good morning, Kathy.

Good morning.

In the news this morning, dozens of firefighters from across South Jersey are working to contain a massive wildfire at Bass River State Forest and Little Lake Harbor Township.

Fire crews have settled control burns to help contain the blaze and save at least 100 homes

that are at risk along Stage Road and Route 9.

It was first spotted about 4 o'clock yesterday.

Rob Gill with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the fire

consumed roughly 900 acres of land that splits between Ocean and Burlington counties. Sections of Route 9 have

been forced to shut down. There are voluntary evacuations for residents in the area with a shelter

set up at Pinelands Regional High School. Firefighters from across the state are working to get the

blaze under control. Officials report about 70 firefighters with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service

from the central and southern parts of the state battled to get the fire under control. About 150

structural firefighters from 35 municipal fire departments work to protect the surrounding homes.

Firefighters began conducting what they call burnout operations,

where they set smaller controlled fires in hopes of protecting homes along stage road

and the offshore manor development along Route 9 and Little Lake Harbor.

It's the process where we eliminate the forest fuel on the ground from a secure area.

In this situation, it's a hard top road all the way around the fire, Gil says.

Residents are being asked to avoid the area.

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