A wildfire in Rockaway Township results in the evacuation of 8 buildings

A wildfire in Rockaway Township has spread to 118 acres as members of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service have now contained it to 10%.

Eight homes have been evacuated as flames have now reached the backyards of properties along Green Pond Road. In this area, fire trucks are parked in driveways to save homes.

The fire was fueled by the dry and warm weather.

William Love of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service says there is no end to the drought in sight.

“We are calling on the public to help us. We need help. Every fire prevented is one less fire we have to fight,” says Love.

Thick smoke sits in the valley where the fire burns all the dry trees, leaves and bushes in its path.

As the fire burns, it is continually extinguished by two helicopters, each carrying 350 gallons of water. These helicopters collect water from nearby Green Pond.

The helicopters were clearly visible from Amy Weiss and her husband's farm.

“The helicopters were great. They probably came through 15 times and flooded the entire area with water,” Weiss said.

She still has two cows on the farm after evacuating 13 horses and a few goats last night.

From their back porch, they could see the glow of the fire on the mountainside as they worked to evacuate these animals.

“Just trees sticking up, you can hear them bursting as the fire really raged. Just all red, the entire cliffs were red,” says Weiss. “It's very scary, but we're trying to stay optimistic that they'll get through it.” It's been taken care of.

About a mile south is the Green Pond neighborhood. People have been watching what is happening very closely and are aware that the wind could push the flames towards their homes.

Christine Zuidema lives there and paid attention to the wind direction.

“I'm sure things will get worse if the wind doesn't stop. “It's a scary time because it's so dry and there's no rain in the forecast,” says Zuidema.

This fire comes just days after another was extinguished in Rockaway. It is only sunshine and drought that worries those whose houses border this forest area.

So far, police have not released any information about the cause of the fire.

According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, wildfires have occurred in the state over the past 45 days.