New Jersey forest fire that was sparked by fireworks is 75% contained

TABERNACLE, N.J. (AP) — A forest fire that has burned 6.3 square miles (about 16.3 square kilometers) in the New Jersey Pinelands was 75% contained as of midmorning Monday, officials said.

Its status remained basically unchanged since Sunday night.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the blaze in Wharton State Forest was not threatening any structures.

It was burning in a section of the forest in Tabernacle Township near the Batona Campground and Apple Pie Hill.

On Sunday, the service said the blaze had been touched off by the use of fireworks in the forest but would not say how it had reached that determination.

The fire was reported by a spotter from a nearby fire observation tower shortly after 9 a.m. Friday.

Crews were using backfire operations to fight the fire, burning areas ahead of the main fire in a bid to stop the flames from spreading. Several roads and trails were closed.

This Saturday, July 6, 2024 image provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection shows members of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service getting ready to battle a forest fire in Tabernacle, N.J. The fire had burned 4,000 acres and was 75% contained as of Monday July 8. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP)

This Saturday, July 6, 2024 image provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection shows a forest fire in Tabernacle, N.J. The fire had burned 4,000 acres and was 75% contained as of Monday July 8. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP)

This Friday, July 5, 2024 image provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection shows members of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service battling a forest fire in Tabernacle, N.J. The fire had burned 4,000 acres and was 75% contained as of Monday July 8. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP)

This Friday, July 5, 2024 image provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection shows a forest fire in Tabernacle, N.J. The fire had burned 4,000 acres and was 75% contained as of Monday July 8. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP)

This Friday, July 5, 2024 image provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection shows a forest fire in Tabernacle, N.J. The fire had burned 4,000 acres and was 75% contained as of Monday July 8. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP)

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Manchester United minority owner Jim Ratcliffe has flown in to personally watch the team play Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday as the pressure mounts on manager Erik ten Hag.

Ratcliffe took his seat at Villa Park alongside United’s new leadership team of chief executive Omar Berrada, technical director Jason Wilcox, sporting director Dan Ashworth as well as Dave Brailsford, a key figure at Ratcliffe’s Ineos Sport.

Present in Barcelona on Friday for the win by INEOS Britannia that earned the yacht a spot in the America’s Cup finals, Ratcliffe gave an interview there with the BBC in which he declined to say he had faith in Ten Hag.

Instead, the British billionaire, who bought a 27.7% stake in the 20-time English champion in February, said the decision over Ten Hag’s future rested in the hands of the executive he has put in place to run the club.

United started the match against Villa in 14th place in the 20-team Premier League, having lost three of its opening six games.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, center, looks out from the stands prior the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Manchester United, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)