Over 3,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes in Ocean County, New Jersey, as a fast-moving wildfire continues to blaze through the region, threatening hundreds of structures and scorching thousands of acres.
According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Jones Road Wildfire had consumed approximately 8,500 acres by 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and was only 10 percent contained. The blaze grew rapidly, more than doubling in size within just two hours after initially being reported at 3,200 acres.
Emergency crews, including numerous fire and rescue personnel, bulldozers, and ground teams, have been deployed to battle the flames. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The fire erupted in the Pine Barrens, a vast rural and forested area that is one of the largest protected ecosystems on the U.S. East Coast. Recent drought conditions, declared by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in March, have exacerbated fire risks in the region.
Power outages affected around 25,000 customers, according to Jersey Central Power & Light, and a section of the Garden State Parkway—a major artery in the state—was closed due to the wildfire’s proximity.
Ocean County, located south of New York City, is a key part of the popular Jersey Shore and home to attractions like the Six Flags amusement park. Officials say more information will be shared during a press briefing scheduled for Wednesday as efforts to contain the blaze continue.