Southern New Jersey wildfire 40% contained after burning 12,500 acres

By Mia MacGregor

April 23 - (The Insurer) - A wildfire that broke out Tuesday morning in Ocean County, New Jersey, has burned at least 12,500 acres and reached 40% containment by Wednesday afternoon amid the state’s peak wildfire season.

The Jones Road Fire ignited in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area near Lacey, Ocean and Barnegat Townships, prompting evacuation orders and road closures, most of which have since been lifted. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Early Wednesday morning, Lt. Governor Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency in Ocean County, writing on X: “At this time, we have no loss of life and no homes have been harmed.”

As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service reported that the fire was 40% contained, with 18 structures still under threat.

April marks the peak of wildfire season in New Jersey, according to the state’s Forest Fire Service.

Conditions have been especially dry across the state, which has been under an official drought warning since November 13, 2024. The winter followed a dry fall, with the third-driest January on record and below-average precipitation throughout the season.

In March, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection released a statement urging the public to remain vigilant about wildfire risks and to conserve water, especially as spring brings increased demand for landscaping, gardening and lawn care.

Additionally, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in February proposed a $1 million increase in the Forest Fire Service budget for fiscal year 2026 to “enhance protection of property and lives amid a significant increase in wildfires.”

This latest wildfire follows the Jennings Creek Fire in November 2024, which burned several thousand acres across parts of New Jersey and New York.