A fire in New Jersey's Wharton State Forest spread a smoky smell across the city Monday morning. View Full Caption Twitter/@streebs

NEW YORK CITY — Many New Yorkers awoke to a lingering smell of smoke that had blown north from a brush fire about 100 miles away in New Jersey's Wharton State Forest Monday morning, officials said.

The smoke started climbing out of the 122,880-acre forest about 3 p.m. Sunday, creating a gray column that could be seen for miles around, and spreading the fine particulate matter and the smell of burning wood across New York's five boroughs through Monday morning, according to officials and reports.

"Due to a brush fire in the Wharton State Park in New Jersey, residents in Staten Island & Brooklyn may smell smoke," the OEM tweeted about 1:45 a.m. Monday morning, but residents could smell it in the city's other boroughs as well.

"[It] smells incredibly strong in #astoria to be in southern Jersey! Wow," tweeted Danielle Rodino.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation had issued an air quality health advisory that was in effect at 9 a.m., but officials noted that the air had improved by later in the morning.

The DEC advised New Yorkers Monday to stay inside and limit their use of things that can worsen air quality, like cars and heavy household appliances.

The fire was half contained about mid-day Monday as about 40 firefighters tried to bring it under control using fire trucks, bulldozers and water trucks, according to ABC.

The New Jersey flames hadn't injured anyone or burned any buildings, according to NBC.

The park is the largest contained green space within the New Jersey State Park System, according to the park's website.

The park is also home to various species of animal including bald eagles, ospreys, beaver and otter, the site said.