According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, roughly 3,000 residents have been evacuated.
NJ wildfire grows to 8,500 acres; thousands of residents evacuated
OCEAN TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — A raging wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey, consumed thousands of acres Tuesday night, forcing some residents to flee their homes.
Chopper 6 overhead as NJ wildfire grows to 3,200 acres on April 22, 2025.
What we know about the fire
The wildfire was reported Tuesday afternoon at the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township. By the evening, the flames spread into both Ocean and Lacey townships in the county.
In an update just before 11 p.m., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the blaze grew to 8,500 acres with 10% containment.
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Chopper 6 was overhead as crews fought the inferno, as smoky haze brought a stretch of the Garden State Parkway to a halt.
Officials said approximately 1,320 structures are being threatened and that damage assessments were still underway in other areas.
A press conference on the fire is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Chopper 6: Crews battling raging wildfire in Ocean County
Evacuations
According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, 3,000 residents have evacuated.
As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, the following evacuation notices remain in place:
In Ocean Township, officials say residents on Wells Mills Road from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway have been asked to leave the area.
The Lacey Township Police Department also issued 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.
PICTURED: Tyler Granato, of Forked River, NJ, captured this image from a home as smoke from a nearby wildfire raged on in the distance.
In Barnegat Township, police say Pheasant Run Barnegat is under voluntary evacuation. A shelter has opened at Southern Regional High School, and pets are welcome.
“As the fire continues north, there is no immediate threat to Barnegat Township. However, we ask you to be prepared in case of a change in direction,” Barnegat police said on Facebook.
There is also a shelter open at the Manchester Township High School on Hawks Way in Manchester.
Power outages
Barnegat Township police say Jersey Central Power & Light de-energized all lines in and out of our Oyster Creek substation at the request of the Forest Fire Service.
Approximately 23,000 JCP&L customers are affected by this forced outage, JCP&L said in a statement.
“We will work to restore power to customers as we are safely able, including through tying areas to neighboring lines where safe and possible,” the statement continued.
There was no immediate word on when power was expected to return.
Closures on the Parkway
The southbound lanes of the Parkway have been reopened between interchanges 69 and 63, and the northbound Parkway has reopened between interchanges 74 and 80.
Other closures remain in place until further notice, including the following:
- Rt. 532 (Wells Mills Road) between Rt. 72 and the Garden State Parkway
- Bryant Road is closed between Wells Mills Road (Rt. 532) and Rt. 539
- Jones Road is closed between Rt. 532 and Bryant Road
- Garden State Parkway is closed between Barnegat Road and Lacey Road
- Closures on Rt. 9 from Lakeside Drive to Rt. 532 (both directions)
- Closures on secondary and tertiary roadways
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No injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Wildfire Safety Tips from the NJ Forest Fire Service
- Don’t discard cigarettes, matches or smoking materials on the ground.
- Don’t leave fires unattended. Douse them completely, until cold to the touch.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children. Teach youth about fire safety. Children can learn about wildfire safety with Smokey Bear’s new mobile game “Smokey’s Scouts.”
- Protect your home and other structures from wildfire by creating defensible space. Visit njwildfire.org for more information.
- Ensure fire trucks can access driveways.
- Report suspicious vehicles and individuals to authorities.
- Use wood stoves and fireplaces carefully, since both can emit embers that spark fires. Fully douse ashes with water before disposal.
- Contact your nearest Forest Fire Service office about how to obtain a Campfire Permit.
