Crews battling large wind-swept forest fire in South Jersey

WOODLAND TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WTXF/AP) - Firefighters are battling a large wind-swept forest fire in southern New Jersey and it's visible for people heading back to town from the shore.

Officials say the pilot of a state monitoring plane spotted smoke from the fire in Woodland Township, Burlington County, on Sunday morning. The fire is taking place both on Brendan T. Byrne State Forest property and private property.

It's now reduced to 337 acres and is 30 percent contained.

It's not yet clear how the fire started or how long it has been burning.

Numerous firefighters from the state and local volunteer fire department personnel were battling the blaze. But officials with the state Forest Fire Service say gusty winds were hampering their efforts to contain it.

The fire had consumed about 200 acres by Sunday afternoon and was expected to keep burning for several hours.

No injuries have been reported.

Firefighters will remain on scene overnight and will be helped by lower temperature and higher humidity, along with an end to the high gusting winds.