Prime Highlights:
- Ocean County in New Jersey has seen the impact of the Jones Road wildfire that burned 8,500 acres and initiated primary evacuations of approximately 3,000 individuals.
- The fire also initiated Parkway closures in the Garden State and left over 1,300 buildings in jeopardy with low containment.
Key Facts:
- The fire was contained by merely 10% until Tuesday evening on dry and windy terrain.
- Close to 80% of New Jersey is under drought conditions, and this is the reason why the fire has spread so fast.
Key Background:
A wildfire broke out on April 22, 2025, within the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, New Jersey. Jones Road Fire quickly got very hot within a few hours because of high winds and dryness, with the advantage of overall drought conditions prevailing in most of the state.
Through efforts by firefighters by Tuesday evening, the fire burned 8,500 acres of land with 10% containment. The spreading of the fire prompted mandatory evacuation of people east of Garden State Parkway and households close to Route 9 and Route 532. In addition, people were also advised on voluntary evacuation for communities close to them such as Windward, Mirage, and Pheasant Run. The Southern Regional High School was also made an emergency center and was to be utilized not only by the homeowners but also by their pets.
Apart from putting lives and properties at risk—more than 1,300 structures are still on a knife’s edge—the wildfire also affected main highways. Five miles of the Garden State Parkway were closed in both directions from exits 69 to 74 because of heavy smoke and being so close to fires. The last closure was more than 17 miles long, showing just how horrible conditions were. The Barnegat Police Department said the Parkway would stay closed at least until midnight Wednesday, urging drivers to go somewhere else. Electricity was temporarily cut along stretches of the Parkway as a safety precaution.
Firefighters work day and night in trying to get the fire under control, hoping for waning winds and fewer weather conditions in their favor. Protracted drought and saturated fuel materials continue to be a hindrance to fire-suppression, though. Officials remain on watch for updates while containment operations continue to move forward.
