Three-acre brush fire burns for nearly 4 hours at Rutgers Gardens

On Wednesday, at approximately 2:17 p.m., a fire was reported in a wooded area of Rutgers Gardens, according to a statement from the University to The Daily Targum.

Upon arrival, firefighters discovered an active brush fire between Log Cabin Road inside the gardens and the Northbound lanes of U.S. Route 1.

At approximately 3 p.m., a University-wide emergency alert about the fire was sent via text message and email. The fire burned for approximately 4 hours and impacted three acres of brush, including vegetation and trees, according to the University's statement.

State, local and University first responders from a half-dozen agencies were brought in to stop the brush fire. These groups included Rutgers Emergency Services, the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD), the North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Department and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

"The cause of the fire is currently under investigation," said Megan Schumann, a University spokesperson. "Once the cause of the fire is determined, prevention methods will be reviewed if necessary and applicable."