The Mullica River Fire, burning about 30 miles northwest of Atlantic City, is New Jersey’s largest wildfire in 15 years, according to Larry Hajna, a public information officer for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

By Tuesday afternoon the fire was 85% contained after burning nearly 21 square miles in Wharton State Forest in southern New Jersey. According to ABCNews the fire is projected to grow to more than 23 square miles and full containment is expected Wednesday.

The fire was first reported Sunday morning, but the fire’s remote location made addressing the blaze immediately difficult, New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Gregory McLaughlin said in a press conference.

There were no reported injuries, but the blaze, burning in Washington, Shamong, Hammonton and Mullica townships, was threatening 18 structures, including farms and campgrounds in the area, The New York Times reported. Officials ruled out natural causes for the fire and said the incident was still under investigation.

Areas in southeastern New Jersey were under an air quality alert on Monday due to the fire, which expired at midnight that night.

Local pilot Kevin Bradberry of Somers Point, New Jersey, shared with weather.com aerial images from his flight above the fire in a Skylane 182 High Performance Cessna.

Bradberry said he had flown over a wildfire in a similar location a few years prior, but it wasn’t quite as big.

“All I can say is [Monday] the fire was still blazing in the treetops, and that means jumping fire lines is more possible. That makes it more dangerous,” Bradberry explained. “The Emergency Management teams and firefighters deserve our praise and respect for putting their lives on the line to protect New Jeresians.”

Click through the photos to see images of the blaze.

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