A massive, rapidly expanding wildfire has surged to 8,500 acres in Ocean County as of Tuesday night and forced the evacuation of 3,000 residents along with multiple closures of major roads.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the “Jones Road Forest Fire” is 10% contained as 10:46 p.m. and a total of 1,320 structures were being threatened by the flames.
“Multiple evacuation shelters have been established,” the Forest Fire Service said. “Southern Regional High School is open to evacuees with pets.”
Power was expected remain out throughout the night, according to a statement from JCP&L.
The “forced outage” de-energized all lines in and out of the company’s Oyster Creek substation at the request of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service as they worked to contain the blaze, the power company said.
A raging wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey, consumed thousands of acres Tuesday night, forcing residents to flee from their homes.
The wildfire was reported Tuesday at the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in neighboring Barnegat Township.
The blaze has grown to 8,500 acres in size and is 10% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said just before 11 p.m.
Offiicals said approximately 1,320 structures were still being threatened.
According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, roughly 3,000 residents have been evacuated.
In Ocean Township, officials say residents on Wells Mills Road from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway are being asked to leave the area.
The Lacey Township Police Department is also issuing an evacuation for residents in South Barnegat Pines south of Lakeside Drive South (including Pheasant Run), those near Beach Boulevard, the area from Route 9 to the Lacey Elks, all of the areas in between Route 9 and the Lacey Elks (Clune Park, Orlando Drive, Sandy Hook Dr, Clubhouse Drive, and all roads in between.
Please pray for the safety of all those affected by this crazy wildfire.
We’ll keep you updated on any further developments.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.
BREAKING: Evacuations are in progress after a major wildfire erupted in Ocean County, New Jersey.
8,500 acres