There’s a firestorm in the Garden State.
A fast-moving wildfire in New Jersey has scorched over 8,500 acres as of Wednesday, forcing thousands to evacuate and disrupting traffic with thick clouds of smoke drifting across the region. Known as the Jones Road Wildfire, the blaze began Tuesday afternoon in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Ocean County and rapidly expanded due to strong winds reaching speeds of 25 mph. By late Tuesday night, officials reported the fire was only 10% contained.
In response to the growing threat, Acting Governor Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday. The fire put more than 1,300 structures at risk and led to the evacuation of roughly 3,000 residents from Ocean Township and Lacey Township. While evacuation orders were lifted early Wednesday morning, around 25,000 utility customers were left without power after crews shut down electricity in the area as a safety precaution.
Though Ocean Township reported no damage to buildings, some structures in neighboring Lacey Township were affected. The fire also caused significant traffic delays, especially along the Garden State Parkway, which was temporarily closed. By Wednesday morning, both the Parkway and nearby Route 9 had reopened to traffic, according to the New Jersey State Police.
Smoke from the wildfire impacted visibility and air quality across southern parts of the state, including Atlantic City. Officials warned that a shift in wind direction could send the smoke northward, potentially affecting areas like New York City, Long Island, and central New Jersey by Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Conditions for fire spread remained elevated across central and southern New Jersey, though cooler temperatures and calmer winds were expected to help firefighters.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze. However, dry conditions, gusty winds, and warm weather have created an environment highly conducive to wildfires. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service scheduled a public update for late Wednesday morning to provide the latest details on containment efforts and community safety.
