A forest fire in New Jersey has exploded more than 8,500 acres after turning on Tuesday near the Toms River and threatening more than 1,000 structures, closing a large road and causing thousands of people to flee from the flames.
Jones Road’s forest fire was only 10% contained on Wednesday morning, according to the New Jersey Forest Firefighters Service.
“Smoking and everything was fine in my backyard. Everything was covered with black ashes,” said Kelly Mendoza, one of the evacuees.
Advanced by burst of wind and dry vegetation, the fire began in Ocean county around 12:30 pm et on Tuesday and exploded during the night of a few hundred acres to 8,500, according to the forest fire.
A fire burns on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, near Waretown, NJ
Chris Szagola/AP
The interim governor of New Jersey, Tahesha Way, who is being completed while Governor Phil Murphy is out of the country, declared an emergency state in Ocean County on Wednesday morning, releasing resources to fight the fire.
“Due to its accelerated growth, with an estimated burn of 8,500 acres, threatening more than 1,000 structures, which require the evacuation of residents in the area and the loss of energy to more than 25,000 residents, I am declaring an emergency state for Ocean County,” Way said in a statement. “I encourage all county residents to continue monitoring the appropriate channels and to use caution and follow all security protocols.”
The fire is located south of the Toms River along Garden State Parkway. At a time on Tuesday night, Flames jumped the park road, which led officials to close it and stop one of the busiest roads in New Jersey.
The authorities said the fire was threatening structures in the municipalities of Ocean and Lacey.
“As the day progressed, it was a bit scary,” said the evacuated resident Michael Ferrara to ABC News about weighing his decision to leave or stay.
Ferrara said he watched with horror how the flames and smoke closed in his neighborhood, which led him to pay attention to mandatory evacuation orders.
He said that the first thing that went through his mind was to keep his family safe.
“But what are you going to carry with you: birth certificates, passports?” Ferrara said. “It’s just a very spooky feeling.”
According to the ABC News Philadelphia station, WPVI, more than a thousand structures are under threat and more than 3,000 residents have evacuated the area as evacuation notices remain instead.
A forced blackout due to fires has also left at least 25,000 clients in the dark, although no injuries have been reported in New Jersey states until Wednesday morning.
Wednesday’s forecast is expected to be winding during the morning with burst winds up to 20 mph from the north, but the winds should calm down this afternoon when high pressure begins to move towards the region with the next rainy opportunity from Friday night.
On Wednesday morning, firefighters raised the evacuation order and warned residents to remain alert.
“I hope to have a home to return,” said an anguished evacueo to ABC News.
