Flanders Fire Department

Firefighters were able to contain a wildfire in the Flanders pine barrens this afternoon, despite strong, gusty winds and downed dead trees on the forest floor. EXCLUSIVE VIDEO FROM THE SCENE.

Hundreds of homes are tucked into 11,000 acres of preserved pine barrens in the Flanders Fire District, where a lack of maintenance by the government entities that own the woodlands has created a dangerous situation, according to Flanders Fire Chief Joe Petit.