New Jersey Wildfire: 13,250 Acres Burned, 50% Contained in Ocean County

Jones Road Fire Update

• ⚠️ A state of emergency is in effect for parts of New Jersey due to the rapidly growing Jones Road Fire in Ocean County.
• 🔥 The wildfire has tripled in size in less than 24 hours, reaching 13,250 acres and is currently 50% contained.
• 💨 This fire has the potential to be the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years, surpassing the 2022 Mullica River fire.

Impact and Evacuations

• 🏘️ Approximately 3,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, with authorities going door-to-door to issue warnings.
• ⚡ Power has been cut to around 25,000 homes and businesses in the affected areas.
• 🚗 The Garden State Parkway was shut down for miles overnight as flames jumped the highway during rush hour.

Fire Conditions and Outlook

• 🌲 The fire is burning low to the ground in the pine barrens, which provides ample fuel for its spread.
• 🔬 Officials anticipate crews will be battling the blaze for several more days, with the potential to char thousands more acres.
• 💨 Smoke from the fire is impacting air quality, with haze reported in parts of New Jersey and New York City, leading to an air quality alert.

Air Quality Concerns

• 🌬️ Light southwest winds are carrying smoke north and east, affecting areas like Forked River and drifting towards Long Island and New York City.
• 😷 The air quality index (AQI) is already at 91 and is expected to exceed 100, triggering an air quality alert that will last through the following day.
• 🌫️ Smoky haze is expected to persist overnight and into the morning hours, with potential impacts in the Hudson Valley during the afternoon.