As of 11 p.m. on Earth Day, April 22, a wildfire consumed 8,500 of woodlands in Ocean and Lacy townships in Ocean County. At that time, the Jones Road Wildfire was only 10% contained and was spreading rapidly
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is on scene, assisted by other local fire companies, some from Atlantic County communities such as Hammonton.
Approximately 1,350 structures are threatened, and 3,000 residents have been evacuated. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Southern Regional High School and evacuees are welcome along with their pets.
The fire is also closing most local roads and a 18-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway between Barnegat and Lacy roads. Route 9 from Lakeside Drive to Rt. 532 is also closed.
Firefighters are bulldozing a fire line but the fire is only 10% contained. Efforts continued through the night to contain the fire. A cause is being investigated.
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection and NJ Forest Fire Service will hold an in person only press conference 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 23 at the Coyle Field Air Attack Base, 1052 Rt.72 in Chatsworth, to provide an update on the progress of the effort to contain the wildfire.
