New Jersey wildfire forces 5,000 residents to evacuate, spreads over 11,500 acres, state of emergency declared
A massive wildfire tearing through Ocean County, New Jersey, has ballooned to over 11,500 acres since erupting Tuesday, threatening homes, triggering mass evacuations, and shutting down a major highway. Driven by dry conditions and strong winds, the
Jones Road Fire
marks one of the state's largest in decades, with firefighters racing to contain its fast-moving flames.
Blaze jumps highway, prompts state of emergency
Emergency crews started fighting the fire near Barnegat Township, but it rapidly expanded while they used aircraft assets. Ongoing flames produced a dangerous leap across the
Garden State Parkway
that forced officials to restrict traffic on the major state route. State authorities activated a state of emergency as Acting Governor Tahesha Way released additional emergency resources. No one suffered any injuries throughout this situation.
Evacuations leave thousands displaced and communities on edge
Ocean and Lacey townshippers received orders to exit their homes right away. Numerous victims observed their houses transform into dark, blackened buildings as flames released ash throughout their boundaries. The fears of people returning home were intensified by uncertainty of their belongings remaining intact. The combined number of those who evacuated according to orders and personal decisions reached 5,000.
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Firefighters battle surge in wildfires amid drought
A hundred firefighters are actively fighting this fire both from the ground and by air to keep it under control. Local authorities aim to completely control the fire situation during the upcoming weekend. The dry weather conditions have made this year exceptionally active, according to fire service leader Bill Donnelly. Since the start of 2025, New Jersey has experienced twice as many wildfire occurrences as it did at this period during last year, and firefighters have currently extinguished fires across 16,500 acres.
Officials have not determined the reason behind the Jones Road fire. Official optimism about controlling the fire increases as wind speeds decrease, while residents must maintain their alertness. Over 25,000 utility customers lost power after the fire started the
power outage
events. Officials emphasize safety precautions and continue to provide updates to everyone near the active fire zone as their teams continue to actively protect both human lives and property assets.
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FAQs:
1. What caused the
New Jersey wildfire
?
The exact cause is still under investigation by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
2. When will the wildfire be contained?
Officials estimate full containment by the weekend, depending on weather conditions.
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