What started out as a fire on Tuesday quickly turned into a state of emergency, after 8,500 acres of land were scorched by Wednesday morning. The NJ wildfire has already forced around 3,000 people to evacuate from the area, and 25,000 New Jersey residents are without power.
Where Did the NJ Wildfire Start?
The NJ Wildfire that has now caused chaos across New Jersey started in the Barnegat Township, which is located in Ocean County. It was in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management area where the fire was first noted, after which it started to spread to the Lacey and Ocean Townships.
By Wednesday, at 1.30 p.m., an update was provided, which stated that the fire had burned 12,000 acres of land. This was a significant increase from the 8,500 acres that were previously reported early on Wednesday.
At the current rate, it is very likely to cause insomnia among residents living close by. It will also spark anxiety among the local individuals, including those already affected, as they could face significant losses.
The Current State of the NJ Wildfire
The early morning update on Wednesday also stated that 10% of the fire was contained, which had increased to 35% according to a report given in the afternoon.
It is also fortunate to learn that no injuries have been reported up until now. However, with a 35% containment rate, the NJ wildfire still poses a significant threat. In fact, according to Shawn LaTourette, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection for New Jersey, this fire might become the biggest one in the state in the past two decades.
Several roads also remain closed, including Jones Road, Bryant Road, and Wells Mills Road. Officials have also closed the Garden State Parkway in order to maintain the safety of residents and passengers who need to commute in the area.
The NJ wildfire has also now been named the Jones Road Wildfire. Officials recently provided updates about how they anticipate things to pan out. According to the latest reports, they anticipate that a 100% containment rate will be reached at 15,410 acres.
This means they do expect the fire to continue spreading, as reported by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service on their official Facebook page.
Final Thoughts
NBC Philadelphia has been providing ongoing updates to help residents understand what is happening. We also know that there has been a significant level of damage dealt to structures, including Liberty Door & Awning, a family-owned business in Lacey Township.
