Wildfire Triggers State of Emergency and Evacuations in Ocean County
Posted on: April 23, 2025
An Ocean County wildfire is destroying thousands of acres and forcing mandatory evacuations in Ocean and Lacey townships. New Jersey Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency for Ocean County in the early morning hours Wednesday, and ordering the evacuation of area residents for what is now called the Jones Road Wildfire.
According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the fire accelerated overnight, scorching an estimated 8,500 acres and threatening more than 1,000 structures. Jersey Central Power & Light cut power to over 25,000 area homes and businesses to protect firefighters battling the flames. Area fire crews established containment lines and backfiring operations to burn fuel ahead of the main fire in efforts to gain control and extinguish the blaze.
The Jones Road Fire started Tuesday morning in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township. The massive, rapidly growing blaze forced the evacuation of 3,000 residents and shut down several major roads, including portions of the Garden State Parkway and Route 9.
Witness and news helicopter videos showed massive smoke plumes obscuring the sky by early afternoon and a wall of flames consuming the Pine Barrens near Route 9, along with a fully engulfed structure.
Residents in the evacuation described prevalent smoke in the air near their homes as they readied to evacuate, many reporting the air quality and odors worsen quickly. The Red Cross established shelters for evacuees at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Manchester Township High School in Manchester.
Officials from the Ocean and Lacey township police departments said all evacuation orders were lifted by dawn. The Garden State Parkway between Barnegat and Lacey roads, and Route 9 from Lakeside Drive to County Road 532, were also reopened. No injuries related to the fire or containment efforts have been reported thus far. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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