A raging wildfire broke out across 8,500 acres in New Jersey on Tuesday, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and shuttering a large stretch of the state’s busiest highway.
Firefighters were battling the Jones Road Wildfire, which was burning over about 13 square miles, through the night after it broke out at 11 a.m. in Lacey and Ocean townships in Ocean County — utilizing fire engines, bulldozers, air support and ground crews, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
A massive wildfire erupted across 8,500 acres in New Jersey Tuesday. Nicole Mazza/NYPost
Parts of the highway were closed and homes evacuated amid the wildfire. Nicole Mazza/NYPost
Smoke could be seen towering over the trees as the blaze raged. Nicole Mazza/NYPostDespite the massive response, the blaze roared on and was just 10% contained as of 10:46 p.m. Roughly 3,000 residents were under evacuation orders and 1,320 homes and buildings were threatened by encroaching sparks, the fire service reported.
Emergency shelters were organized for those forced to flee their homes — in areas near portions of Routes 532, 539, 72 and 9, officials said.
Road closures are also in effect Tuesday night all across the county, including for 17 miles of the Garden State Parkway, Route 9, Route 532, Lakeside Drive, Jones Road, Bryant Road and Route 72, according to the state forest fire agency.
Here is the latest on the New Jersey wildfire
- Air quality warning issued for NYC and Long Island as wildfire in NJ spreads to more than 13K acres
- Massive NJ wildfire that forced thousands to flee inferno could be state’s largest in decades
- Evacuation orders lifted after fast-moving NJ wildfire shuts down major highway, prompts thousands to leave
- NJ wildfire prompts evacuation orders for thousands as blaze explodes in size, closes part of Garden State Parkway
- 19-year-old Joseph Kling appears in court, charged with arson for allegedly sparking massive NJ wildfire
Voluntary evacuations are in place for several areas of Barnegat Township. Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The inferno is seen illuminating New Jersey from space.
Flames from the Jones Road Fire in Barnegat, New Jersey, near the Garden State Parkway on April 22, 2025. NJ Garden State ParkwayAbout 25,000 homes and businesses are without power in the area as Jersey Central Power & Light cut electricity in the area to protect responding firefighters, according to a statement.
“Safety is our top priority and all restoration timing will be determined by the safety of firefighters, our crews and the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” the company said in the statement.
Photos show the flames ripping through wooded areas along the New Jersey highway, with dark smoke blotting out the sky on the otherwise beautiful day.
Drought levels in Ocean County are “abnormally dry” to “moderately dry,” according to the US Drought Monitor.
The forest fire in the Barnegat/Waretown area as seen from a playground on First Avenue in Barnegat, New Jersey. Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Roughly 3,000 residents were under evacuation orders. AP
A fire burns near Waretown, NJ, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. AP
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Mike Berger via StoryfulThere are no known injuries as a result of the fire.
The cause of the Jones Road Wildfire is under investigation.
