UPDATE: Fire grows to 8,000 acres, but it’s 50 percent contained

As firefighters battle a massive blaze that’s torn through more than 5,000 acres in the Pinelands, residents as far away as New York are reporting that they can smell the smoke.

The smoke plume from the South Jersey blaze even appears on radar.

In addition to smoke, residents in areas of Monmouth and Middlesex counties are reporting falling ash covering vehicles Sunday morning.

An update on the status of the fire is expected later this morning.

The fire was first reported around 1:45 p.m. Saturday in Penn State Forest in Woodland Township, Burlington County.

High winds helped drive the blaze through the afternoon and it had grown to 5,000 acres as of 10 p.m. Saturday, with 10 percent containment. The fire was expected to expand overnight.

No injuries were reported and no evacuations have been ordered.

The National Weather Service shared this image showing the smoke plume from the Pinelands fire, along with an explanation for why residents far north of the blaze can smell smoke.

Meanwhile, social media users reported smelling smoke in areas including Newark, Elizabeth, Wayne and Staten Island.

The smell of fire and smoke in the air is almost unbearable outside, and I’m 50 miles north of this. https://t.co/urJIr0MpcU — Live Action Vincent Adultman (@CFSparta92) March 31, 2019

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly reported that the smoke plume was visible on radar and explained that smoke was being carried north.

A meteorologist said the spread of smoke into North Jersey was the result of “nocturnal inversion” in the atmosphere, which prevented smoke from quickly dissipating.

We can smell this fire and the smoke all the way in staten island NY https://t.co/LHB8ALyrsE — KeithCohenRealtor (@KcohenSIRealtor) March 30, 2019

In addition to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and support from air tankers, multiple departments from Burlington and Ocean counties responded to battle the blaze.

The forest is bounded by Route 72 to the northeast, Route 563 to the west and Route 539 to the east.

Route 72 remains closed in the area of the blaze.

FB peeps in NJ from Old Bridge going south .Keep your windows closed do to a big forest fire in Ocean Co. Ash & smoke everywhere — Gail Ritzer (@karma61) March 30, 2019

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.