Sixteen Homes Evacuated as NJ Wildfire Grows Uncontrolled
Emergency responders have evacuated sixteen structures threatened by a rapidly expanding wildfire in Ocean County, as the Jones Road Fire grew from just five acres at noon to more than 1,200 acres by late afternoon. The blaze, burning in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area near Barnegat and Waretown, remains completely uncontained as fire crews battle challenging conditions and winds that have driven the aggressive fire behavior.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported that all threatened structures along Bryant Road and Wells Mills Road have been evacuated, as mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for residents on Wells Mills Road (Route 532) from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway. Officials have not yet indicated when residents might be able to return to their homes as firefighting operations continue with both ground and aerial resources deployed to combat the expanding fire perimeter.
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From Small Brush Fire to Major Incident
The dramatic expansion of the Jones Road Fire highlights how quickly wildfire conditions can deteriorate in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens ecosystem. According to Asbury Park Press, a Nixle alert from the Barnegat Police Department shortly after noon reported just “5 acres were on fire west of Route 532 on the Barnegat/Waretown border by Jones and Bryant roads” with “no danger to the public at that time.”
Within hours, the situation had transformed from a minor brush fire into a full-scale wildfire emergency, triggering evacuations, major road closures, and the deployment of significant firefighting resources. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service classifies a brush fire as a “major wildfire” when it exceeds 100 acres – a threshold that the Jones Road Fire has now surpassed more than tenfold.
The rapid escalation demonstrates the current susceptibility of New Jersey forests to fire spread due to worsening drought conditions. Fox Weather reports that drought levels in Ocean County are classified as “abnormally dry to moderate” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, with conditions deteriorating over the past week. Nearly 80% of New Jersey currently faces some level of drought, creating elevated fire danger throughout much of the state.
Multi-Agency Response Mobilizes Specialized Resources
The complexity and scale of the wildfire have prompted a coordinated multi-agency response utilizing specialized wildland firefighting equipment and techniques. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has deployed fire engines, bulldozers, and ground crews to establish containment lines and defend structures threatened by the advancing flames.
Aerial resources have proven crucial in the firefighting effort, with a helicopter capable of dropping 300 gallons of water making repeated drops on hotspots, supported by an observation helicopter providing critical intelligence on fire behavior and spread. Additionally, a contract air tanker capable of delivering 600-gallon water drops is working to slow the fire’s advance in areas inaccessible to ground crews.
The coordinated response reflects the specialized nature of wildland firefighting, which differs significantly from structural firefighting in urban environments. Heavy equipment like bulldozers create firebreaks by clearing vegetation to mineral soil, while aircraft attack from above to cool hotspots and reduce fire intensity enough for ground crews to work safely.
Evacuees Face Uncertainty Amid Transportation Challenges
For residents forced to evacuate their homes, the situation is complicated by the closure of the Garden State Parkway between exits 62 and 80, limiting evacuation routes and creating transportation challenges throughout the region. NewsBreak reports that the highway closure has “created cascading traffic problems throughout Ocean County as motorists scramble to find alternative routes on already congested secondary roads.”
Emergency management officials have established designated evacuation routes to guide residents safely away from threatened areas, but the highway closure limits options for those seeking temporary accommodations or attempting to reach friends and family outside the immediate area. Evacuation centers have been established, though details on locations and capacity have not been widely publicized as officials focus on immediate life-safety operations.
Beyond those directly evacuated, residents throughout the region face health concerns from dense smoke and falling ash. Public health advisories urge residents in smoke-affected areas to remain indoors with windows closed and air conditioning systems set to recirculate mode to minimize exposure to particulate matter. Those with respiratory conditions, the elderly, and young children are considered particularly vulnerable to smoke-related health effects.
As firefighting operations continue into the evening, local officials indicate that evacuations may expand if fire conditions worsen. Current forecasts suggest challenging fire weather may persist for several days, potentially extending the duration of both the firefighting operation and the displacement of affected residents before containment can be achieved and evacuation orders lifted.
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