Smoke from wildfire hits town

HAMMONTON, N.J., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Public schools in a South Jersey town were shut down Friday because of thick smoke from a nearby forest fire.

The wildfire in Wharton State Forest, which began Tuesday afternoon, continued to burn, The Press of Atlantic City, N.J., reported. The fire is in an area with few buildings.

But with weather conditions Friday preventing smoke from dissipating, Atlantic County officials urged drivers to stay out of Hammonton and residents to remain indoors because of thick smoke. Schools there were closed for a time.

Route 206, a major north-south route through the New Jersey Pine Barrens, crosses the fire area. A section just north of Hammonton was shut down because of the smoke Friday morning. It was reopened but officials said it would be closed overnight.

In Philadelphia, about 30 miles away, smoke from the fire could be smelled in the streets, WHYY-FM reported.

The fire has consumed close to 2,000 acres of oak and pine woods. Fire officials said that a heavy rain forecast for Saturday is likely to douse it.