Latest news with #JerseyCentralPowerandLightCompany
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New Jersey wildfire forces thousands to evacuate
April 23 (UPI) -- Thousands of New Jersey residents have been evacuated as a wildfire burning along the East Coast continues to grow, authorities said. According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Jones Road Wildfire ignited Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Ocean County. By 10:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, it had grown to approximately 8,500 acres and was only 10% contained, the fire service said said. Some 3,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey townships have been evacuated, it said, adding that about 1,320 structures are being threatened by the blaze. "Damage assessments underway," the fire service said. Several roads have been closed due to the fire, including Route 9 in Lacey Township, where police said earlier Wednesday that it will remain that way for the "foreseeable future." More than 25,000 customers in Ocean County were without electricity early Wednesday, according to Jersey Central Power and Light Company confirmed in a statement on X that it had cut power to some 25,000 customers at the request of the forest fire service to de-energize all power lines in and out of its Oyster Creek substation. "We do not anticipate restoring power tonight," it said in a Tuesday night statement. "We will work to restore power to customers as we are safely able, including through tying areas to neighboring lines where safe and possible." The cause of the fire is under investigation. "My office is closely monitoring the Jones Road Wildfire, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said in a statement on X. "Please follow warnings and directions from local and state emergency services." According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's website, there are an average of 1,500 wildfires a year that damage or destroy 7,000 acres.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
New Jersey Wildfire Forces Evacuation Of 3,000 Residents—Leaves 25,000 Homes Without Power
A fast-moving wildfire in New Jersey's Ocean County forced around 3,000 residents to evacuate and shut down a section of one of the busiest highways in the state on Tuesday night. Smoke rises from a wildfire early Wednesday, near Barnegat Township, New Jersey. In its most recent update about the size of the wildfire, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the fast-moving blaze has burned around 8,500 acres, more than doubling in size in two hours, of which only 10% has been contained. The fire, which is burning through New Jersey's Ocean & Lacey Townships, threatened 1,320 structures and forced the closure of a section of the Garden State Parkway, 'between Barnegat Road and Lacey Road,' the update noted. The fire department said the cause of the blaze was still under investigation. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. According to the tracker more than 25,476 homes and businesses were without power early Wednesday. Jersey Central Power and Light Company said the power cuts were done for safety reasons following a request from the Jersey Forest Fire Service and the wildfire's command post. The utilities company said: 'All restoration timing will be determined by the safety of firefighters, our crews and the public.' The statement then added: 'We do not anticipate restoring power tonight.'
Boston Globe
23-04-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
New Jersey forest fire prompts evacuations and closes a major highway
The fire in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area burned more than 13.2 square miles (34.2 square kilometers) of land, fire officials said. The blaze, burning in Ocean and Lacey Townships in Ocean County, was only about 10% contained Tuesday night, the New Jersey Fire Service said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Advertisement There were no immediate reports of injuries. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The Jersey Central Power and Light Company posted on the social platform X that it cut power to about 25,000 customers at the request the Forest Fire Service and the wildfire's command post Tuesday evening. It doesn't expect to restore the power before Wednesday. 'This is for the safety of crews battling the fire,' the company said. Debi Schaffer was caught in gridlocked traffic after evacuating with her two dogs while her husband agreed to stay with their 22 chickens. 'I wanted to take them in the car with me; can you imagine 22 chickens in a car?' she told the newspaper. Around her Waretown house it was 'like a war zone,' she said, describing smoke, sirens and the buzz of helicopters. Advertisement The site of the fire is near an alpaca farm. The farm said in a Facebook post that the property wasn't threatened and all of the animals were safe. The blaze is the second major forest fire in the region in less than a week.
The Independent
23-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
New Jersey forest fire prompts evacuations and closes a major highway
A wildfire burning in New Jersey on Tuesday forced some residents to evacuate and closed a stretch of a major highway. The Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey's busiest highways, was closed between Barnegat and Lacey townships, The Press of Atlantic City reported. More than 1,300 structures were threatened and power was out to most of Barnegat Township, authorities said. A mandatory evacuation was ordered for an unknown number of structures in Lacey Township. Shelters were open at a church and high school. The fire in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area burned more than 13.2 square miles (34.2 square kilometers) of land, fire officials said. The blaze, burning in Ocean and Lacey Townships in Ocean County, was only about 10% contained Tuesday night, the New Jersey Fire Service said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The Jersey Central Power and Light Company posted on the social platform X that it cut power to about 25,000 customers at the request the Forest Fire Service and the wildfire's command post Tuesday evening. It doesn't expect to restore the power before Wednesday. 'This is for the safety of crews battling the fire,' the company said. Debi Schaffer was caught in gridlocked traffic after evacuating with her two dogs while her husband agreed to stay with their 22 chickens. 'I wanted to take them in the car with me; can you imagine 22 chickens in a car?" she told the newspaper. Around her Waretown house it was 'like a war zone,' she said, describing smoke, sirens and the buzz of helicopters. The site of the fire is near an alpaca farm. The farm said in a Facebook post that the property wasn't threatened and all of the animals were safe. The blaze is the second major forest fire in the region in less than a week.
