By: Richard L. Smith
County officials in Essex County are looking into the cause of a large brush fire that erupted inside one of their parks near a highway in Newark's South.
Firefighters were dispatched to reports of a fire on the Route 22 side of Weequahic Park shortly before 9:45 p.m.
Crews arrived and found flames engulfing a large section of brush with fire extending to additional areas of the park.
Police temporarily closed the eastbound lanes of Route 22 while Conrail shut down freight trains in the park while firefighters battled the fire.
Crews managed to get the flames under control in about an hour, but arson investigators were dispatched to the location to assist in the investigation.
No injuries were reported.