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POMPTON LAKES — The wildfire that continues to burn in the Cannonball Road area of the borough has spread to 162 acres, but the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported it had made "significant progress" on Saturday afternoon.

As of 3:30 p.m. 50% of the fire had been contained, reported the Forest Fire Service, as its personnel remained on the scene with fire engines and crews as well as a service helicopter that is capable of dropping 350 gallons of water. The local fire companies are protecting the structures in the area, the Fire Service reported.

No evacuation order has been given, however, the Forest Fire Service posted on X (formerly Twitter) at about 7 a.m. on Saturday that "55 structures are threatened by the fire, however there are no evacuations at this time."

Strong winds sent smoke in the direction of Bergen County as well as the George Washington Bridge and New York City on Saturday afternoon.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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The fire was reported to have consumed about 75 acres as of 7 a.m. on Saturday and by 10:30 it had increased to 100 acres. The latest update by fire officials reported that even though the fire spread to 162 acres, half had been contained.

Interstate 287 has been impacted, with smoke near the intersection with the Wanaque River, posted the Forest Fire Service at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday.

At about 10 a.m., emergency crews closed one of the Route 287 north lanes at exit 55 said State Police Sgt. Charles Marchan.

The Wanaque Fire Department is assisting the Pompton Lakes Fire Department with the Cannonball fire, which is currently close to I 287, but has not crossed the Wanaque River, according to the Wanaque Office of Emergency Management.

Residents are asked to stay away from the Fourth Avenue dog park and not enter the woods behind Back Beach Park.

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"Many residents have offered food and water for the fire department, which they greatly appreciate. These items can be dropped off at the Haskell Fire Department" on 4th Avenue, reads a Wanaque Police Department Facebook post.

Area resident Joe Sarno said the wind was around 29 mph during the night, making things "pretty smokey and spooky in our neighborhood."

NorthJersey.com reporter Matt Fagan, who was in the area on Saturday morning, said he saw smoke from the Pompton Lakes fire over Franklin Lakes and even in Fair Lawn. He said flames had reached as far west as Route 287 north near the Wanaque River. He said flames reached the fall foliage on the ground right up to the highway in that area.

The Pompton Lakes fire chief told NorthJersey.com on Friday night that the fire was burning on 10 to 15 acres and was 60% to 70% contained. He said the local volunteer fire department remained on the scene as well.

The fire chief said a Forest Fire Service helicopter dropped water on the fire Friday night. He confirmed the fire began at the old DuPont factory on Cannonball Road, just off Route 28. As of late Friday night, no injuries were reported.

The volunteer fire department on Thursday urged everyone to beware of fire danger. The department's Facebook account post reads: "The wildfire danger remains VERY HIGH. Stage 3 fire restrictions are still in effect. No ground fires or fire pits! No fireworks, please! Only elevated grills for cooking allowed. You know the saying - 'Only YOU can prevent Forest Fires!"

The state is experiencing a drought situation. After more than a month of dry weather, rain is expected to return this weekend, bringing a touch of relief to parched areas across the state, according to meteorologist Joe DeSilva with the National Weather Service.

Showers are likely to begin Sunday and continue into Monday morning, with a total of a quarter to half an inch of rain, DeSilva said. This would mark the first significant rainfall in New Jersey in 35 days, a stretch that has intensified drought concerns and heightened the risk of forest fires in some areas.

Several forest fires have been reported in the last several weeks, including one in Morris County that took days to get under control.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service was also fighting a wildfire on the Palisades in Englewood Cliffs, causing some local road closures.

The service deployed fire engines and ground crews to fight the Englewood Cliffs fire, which covered about 39 acres and was about 40 contained Saturday, the fire service said.

A Forest Fire Service helicopter capable of dropping 350 gallons of water worked the fire Friday morning.

Forest Fire Service crews anticipated that the fire was unlikely to expand significantly in size. A firefighter was seen battling flames in a dense area of the park as the crews worked to contain the fire, which was fueled by dry conditions.

Reporters Lucas Frau and Matt Fagan contributed to this report.