Dragway Wildfire: Crews close in on containing 1,700-acre blaze near Atco Dragway

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP, N.J. - Firefighters in New Jersey are making significant progress in containing a massive wildfire that has consumed over 1,000 acres of the state's famed pinelands. 

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service on Monday afternoon said the Dragway Wildfire - named after the former Atco Dragway - has torched 1,700 acres and is 95% contained as of Tuesday morning.

Officials say the fire first sparked Sunday in Wharton State Forest in Waterford Township and quickly spread to across county lines into Burlington County near the recently shuttered Atco Dragway.

Jackson Road remains closed from Tremont Avenue to Artison Road in Waterford Township while firefighters continue to battle the blaze. 

Assistant New Jersey State Fire Warden Bill Donnelly explained that because the fire is in a remote area of the forest, no structures are being threatened.

"The fire is so remote, it shouldn't have any impact directly on any of the residents in the area," Donnelly said. 

Investigators have not speculated on what sparked the fire.