A massive wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey, has burned over 8500 acres and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
The fire reportedly started around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township, New Jersey, according to NBC 10 Philadelphia. Approximately 3,000 people in the area were told to evacuate, according to reports. Over 1,300 homes and structures were in danger due to the fire.
As of late Tuesday night, the fire was only 10% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. Currently, the cause of the fire remains unknown and is still under investigation. No casualties have been reported as of early Wednesday morning.
The fires caused significant disruptions in the area. Smoke from the fire caused visibility issues, which led to numerous traffic jams. Several high-volume highways in the area were closed off to commuters in the evening rush hour, according to reports.
”With the winds calming down during the evening hours, there will be an increased amount of smoke in the area,” Barnegat Police warned in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening. “This increase in smoke will decrease visibility while driving.”
Power outages were also reported in the area, with Jersey Central Power & Light turning off power along the Garden State Parkway because of threats posed by the wildfire, said the Barnegat Police Department. As of Wednesday morning, over 25,500 people in Ocean County were without power, PowerOutage.us reported.
“Residents should prepare for the possibility of an extended power outage as there may be damaged power lines and transformers,” Barnegat Police said.
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Tuesday’s fire came as the Garden State was experiencing an official drought warning, according to reports. Nearly 80% of New Jersey was enduring drought conditions.
Numerous resources in the state were deployed to fight the wildfire. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service announced that officials would provide an update at a Wednesday press conference scheduled for 11 a.m.