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NDTV
24-04-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
New Jersey Wildfire Burns 11,500 Acres, Could Be State's Largest In 20 Years
New Jersey, US: A sprawling wildfire burning in New Jersey's Pinelands near Atlantic Ocean beach towns could become the largest in the state in 20 years, having already consumed some 11,500 acres, officials said on Wednesday. The Jones Road Wildfire had spread to 11,500 acres in less than 24 hours as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday and was 30 per cent contained, the New Jersey Fire Service said in a post on X. It was no longer threatening populated areas. WILDFIRE UPDATE: Jones Road Wildfire - Ocean & Lacey Townships, Ocean County New Jersey Forest Fire Service continues to make progress containing a wildfire burning in Ocean & Lacey Townships, Ocean County. SIZE & CONTAINMENT 🔥 13,250 acres 🔥 50% contained — New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) April 23, 2025 The blaze could become the largest in New Jersey in 20 years, said Shawn LaTourette, the state's commissioner of environmental protection, at a press conference. A fire in 2005 in the same area consumed 17,000 acres. Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday; Governor Phil Murphy is on an overseas trip. "At this time, we have no loss of life and no homes have been harmed," Way said on X on Wednesday morning. So far in 2025, New Jersey has experienced nearly twice as many wildfires as usual, with 662 wildfires burning 16,572 acres. That compares with about 310 wildfires burning 315 acres last year, state Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly said at the briefing. On average, 1,500 wildfires damage or destroy 7,000 acres of the state's forests each year, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said on its website. The blaze started on Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area near Lacey, Ocean and Barnegat townships in Ocean County, about halfway between Asbury Park and Atlantic City. The area, with a combined population of about 64,000 residents, is about 15 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. About 1,300 homes were forced to evacuate on Tuesday, but the evacuation orders were lifted by Wednesday morning. In addition, a stretch of the Garden State Parkway, a major north-south highway, was closed on Tuesday but reopened Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and there is no timeline for full containment. The fire is expected to continue to burn for several days until rain comes on Friday or Saturday, New Jersey fire officials said at the briefing. About 25,000 residents remain without power, according to the Jersey Central Power & Light, which is owned by FirstEnergy. Embers from the fire sparked several small blazes near a de-commissioned nuclear power plant known as Oyster Creek, according to state officials. The plant, owned by Holtec International, shut down in 2018.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fast-Moving Wildfire Forces Evacuations In New Jersey, Shuts Down Part Of Garden State Parkway
As many as 3,000 people were forced to evacuate their neighborhoods Tuesday as a wildfire threatened homes in New Jersey and shut down part of the Garden State Parkway. The Jones Road Wildfire started around noon EDT Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Ocean County. By Tuesday night, it had consumed more than 13 square miles and was threatening more than 1,300 structures in the Ocean and Lacey townships, according to the New Jersey Fire Service. (MORE: Drone Video Captures Widespread Flooding In New Orleans) Wednesday morning, all evacuation orders were lifted for Lacey Township, the city's police department announced. At the height of Tuesday evening's rush hour, the fire shut down a stretch of the Garden State Parkway between the Barnegat and Lacey townships, creating traffic gridlock as residents tried to evacuate. Several other roads in the area were also shut down. Two high schools were being used as evacuation shelters and evacuation orders remained in place early Wednesday. (MORE: Don't Get Used To Those Warmer Temperatures Just Yet) Jersey Central Power And Light shut off electricity to about 25,000 customers, saying on X that it was at the request of the Forest Fire Service, for the safety of crews battling the fire. There were no immediate reports of injuries. As of Wednesday morning, the fire was about 10% contained. There's no word yet on the cause of the fire, but parts of South Jersey are in moderate to severe drought. It's expected to stay dry for the next couple of days, no rain is in the forecast until Friday when a cold front will bring some showers Friday night into Saturday. This is a developing story; continue to check back here for updates.
Nahar Net
23-04-2025
- General
- Nahar Net
New Jersey forest fire prompts thousands of evacuations, closes major highway
by Naharnet Newsdesk 23 April 2025, 12:07 A fast-moving wildfire burning in New Jersey on Tuesday forced thousands of people 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, according to the New Jersey Fire Service. More than 1,300 structures were threatened and about 3,000 residents were evacuated, the fire service said. Shelters were open at two high schools, according to the Barnegat Police Department. The Jersey Central Power and Light Company cut power to about 25,000 customers at the request of the Forest Fire Service and the wildfire's command post Tuesday evening, including thousands in Barnegat Township. The company said on X that it doesn't expect to restore the power before Wednesday. "This is for the safety of crews battling the fire," the company said. 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. Debi Schaffer was caught in gridlocked traffic after evacuating with her two dogs while her husband agreed to stay with their 22 chickens, The Press of Atlantic City reported. "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.
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.
Epoch Times
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Epoch Times
New Jersey Forest Fire Prompts Evacuations and Closes Major Highway
BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP, N.J.—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 4.6 square miles of land, fire officials said. The blaze, burning in Ocean and Lacey Townships in Ocean County, was only about 5 percent contained Tuesday night, the New Jersey Fire Service said. The cause of the fire was under investigation. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Related Stories 4/10/2025 3/24/2025 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.
